OLD BRENTWOODS…14 BRAINTREE…58 (Canterbury Jack Essex 1 Prem)

BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2016/17 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.

OLD BRENTWOODS…14 BRAINTREE…58 (Canterbury Jack Essex 1 Prem)
CHAMPIONS Braintree rounded off a scintillating 2016/17 league campaign with a convincing victory which saw them achieve a 100 per cent win rate.
The black and ambers secured the title some weeks back but have been relentless in their pursuit of perfection.
And following Saturday’s emphatic win they can look back on a job done not only well, but with real style and panache.
Tree started strongly and pinned their hosts inside their own 22 for the first 10 minutes with some relentless scrummaging.
The constant pressure finally took its toll on Old B’s when blindside flanker Dylan Moss crashed over in the corner to give his side a 5-0 lead.
And they added to their points tally straight from the re-start when prop Jamie Prince gathered the ball in and went on a bullocking run, brushing aside a string of tackles.
He was eventually brought down but not before he managed to slip the ball to second row Dan Johnston who strode past the last defenders to score.10-0.
The home side fought back gamely, putting Tree’s scrum under pressure and forcing some penalties.
Good pressure in the visitors’ 22 led to them scoring under the posts and converting to narrow the deficit to 7-10 after 19 minutes.
But Tree were quickly back on the attack and three minutes later a trademark ‘show and go’ by fly-half Josh Hine allowed him to score out wide. 15-7.
They extended their lead on the half hour mark when Johnston crashed over for his second of the game after another solid scrum, Craig Willis converting for 22-7.
And shortly afterwards it was 29-7 after Prince, full of vim after his return from a prolonged suspension, barrelled over for a try which was once again converted by Willis. 29-7.
Further continued pressure by the visitors culminated in a penalty which Willis then kicked to give his side a 32-7 interval lead.
The second half to’d and fro’d for the first 15 minutes with Tree having to dig in to repel a concerted effort by their opponent to get back into the game.
But they eventually gained the upper hand after a strong carry into Old B's half by captain John Smillie.
Quick ball from the resulting ruck saw winger James Abbott touching down for a try which was converted by Willis. 39-7.
On 58 minutes full-back Dominic Dann got in on the action when he joined the line on a backs move to score out wide following a kick chase. Willis again converted for 46-7.
Nine minutes later Dann gathered a high-kick and passed to Hine who kicked ahead and retrieved the ball before slipping it to replacement scrum-half George Crane.
Crane crossed the line to score, with Willis booting the extra points from the conversion to stretch the visitors’ lead to 53-7.
Old B’s grabbed a deserved converted try on 70 minutes to narrow the score to 53-14 from a quick tap penalty.
But with four minutes remaining Hine had the last word for Tree as he stretched the home defence out wide and beat his defender to put the icing on the cake. 58-14.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “It was a good win because Old Brentwoods are far better than their league position would suggest.
“They scrummaged well and caused us problems with their big forwards running at us. Their fly-half marshalled his troops well and they certainly stayed in the game for the whole 80.
“I thought their big front row did particularly well to keep going for the whole game in very hot conditions.
“But whether we ran directly at their defence or kicked long to pressurise their back three we managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over well.
“It was very satisfying to wrap up the league programme unbeaten and shows our massive improvement this year.
“But we are under no illusions about the challenges we face when we step up a league next season. The whole playing squad will need to show great commitment.”
Tree have one last fixture this season when they take on Maldon in the final of the Essex President’s Shield a week on Saturday.
BRUFC: Dann, Abbott, Adams, Willis, Crane, Hine, Page, Baker, W Turner, Prince, Johnston, Fitzearle, Moss, Williams, Smillie. Reps: M Moore, Spearman, Drew.
An under strength Braintree IIs lost their Plate Final clash 22-0 to Old Cooperians IIs, despite the late inclusion of joint first team coach Brian Joslin, but performed far better in the second hald when they restricted their opponents to just five points.