Braintree 35 Millwall 15

BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2015/16 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.

BRAINTREE...35 MILLWALL...15 (Canterbury Jack Essex One)

BRAINTREE’s long suffering fans finally witnessed the home victory they have waited so long for as the black and ambers continued their winning start to the new season on Saturday.
Following hard on the heels of their impressive 26-12 win at Clacton the week before Tree started the game with gusto against opponents who were making their first league visit to Robbs Wood.
And they got off to the best possible start when Lee Turner crashed over in the corner to score an unconverted try following a fine run by winger Ash Murray.
Millwall hit back with a penalty to narrow the gap to 5-3 soon after and the first 20 minutes of the game were evenly balanced with both teams feeling each other out.
But half way through the first period a superb backs move ended with Joss Adams scoring between the posts before converting his own try to give the black and ambers a 12-3 advantage.
The hosts looked threatening every time they got the ball and on 25 minutes skipper Darren Page scored the try of the day after running from near the halfway line and throwing a number of dummies before scoring an excellent individual try to stretch their lead to 17-3.
Millwall proved to be game opponents though and finished the half strongly, scoring a fine try of their own after 35 minutes to narrow the deficit to 17-8.
But Tree had the last say before the teams went in at half-time, Joe Young searing through the Millwall defence before offloading to Glen Whyatt, who showed an equally electric turn of pace to score in the corner and earn his side a 22-8 interval lead.
After the break the home side started poorly with some over-elaborate play and the yellow carding of Mike Benfield for not releasing saw Millwall get back into the game with a fine converted try between the posts to narrow the gap to 22-15.
But they quickly returned to playing basic rugby and forced a penalty which Adams converted to re-establish a 25-15 lead.
On 70 minutes the returning Dan Johnson made a powerful drive into the centre of the Millwall defence which was continued by a surge of drives by front rows Lloyd Hardin and Matt Moore which opened up the visitors’ defence.
The forwards’ hard work paid deserved dividends when Whyatt arrived in support to score his second try of the day and stretch Tree’s advantage to 30-15.
With the visitors tiring Johnson embarked on another 20-yard charge supported by Hardin whose pass to Neil Fitzearle saw the second row score wide out left to secure a fine 35-15 win which puts them on top of Essex One after two fixtures played.
On Sunday Braintree’s newly formed academy side rounded off a great weekend for the club when they hammered Norwich 76-0 in the first round of the National Colts Cup.
Joint coach Brian Joslin, who left the first team in the capable hands of Gary Coote and Jamie Clarke to attend a club wedding on Saturday, was delighted at the youngsters’ performance.
He said: “I was very proud of all the boys. To take 19 lads up to Norwich and three injured players as supporters was quite something.
“It’s still early days but the club is in a better place playing wise than it has been for the past couple of years and the big rebuilding job is going well so far.”
Tree’s first team are back in Essex One action on Saturday when they travel to face King’s Cross Steelers.

BRUFC: Drew, Murray, Crane, J Young, Whyatt, Adams, Page, Hardin, Halford, M Moore, Fitzearle, Aldridge, Turner, Benfield, Spearman. Reps: Olley, Johnson, Kerr.