BRAINTREE…29 CAMPION…20 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2017/18 SEASON.
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BRAINTREE…29 CAMPION…20 (London 3 Essex)

NEWLY promoted Braintree kicked off the inaugural London 3 Essex season with a hard fought win against a game Campion side at Robbs Wood on Saturday.
After taking Essex 1 by storm last time out with a perfect 100 per cent win record the black and ambers knew they wouldn’t have things all their own way on their return to a higher level.
But they ground out a deserved victory which will have greatly encouraged coaches Brian Joslin and David Gilder in their bid to put Tree back at the heart of Essex rugby.
Campion kicked off and immediately put their hosts under sustained early pressure, leading to the award of a penalty after just six minutes which bounced back off the woodwork.
Tree grabbed the loose ball but were forced to concede a five-metre scrum after being pushed back over their line.
The visitors retained possession and spread the ball out wide to score with the game only nine minutes old. 0-5.
Campion extended their lead on 14 minutes when another penalty was kicked long to touch and they secured the line-out before scoring from a catch and drive move. 0-10.
Tree looked shell-shocked but to their credit they regrouped quickly and started to play their way into the game.
After 21 minutes full-back Dominic Dann collected a kick in his own 22 and pumped it long down field.
His opposite number was unable to field the catch and fumbled the ball to the chasing James Abbott who put Keelan Joslin in to score in the corner. 5-10.
The play then ebbed and flowed for the next 20 mins until the home side finished the half on a high note.
Another long kick into space by Dann was chased by centre Joss Adams who collected the ball on the full and ran in to score out wide and level the scores on the stroke of half-time. 10-10.
After the break it was the home side who took the initiative through and they went ahead for the first time on 53 minutes.
A superb passage of play saw winger Abbott clear his lines with a cross-field kick out of defence which found Adams who beat one opponent and slipped a pass inside to replacement Tom Drew.
Drew stood up his defender and slipped the ball back inside to the supporting Abbott who ran in to his side’s third try and give them a 15-10 lead.
But five minutes later Campion regained the lead, running a kick from defence back at their hosts to score a converted try. 15-17.
They extended their lead on 72 minutes with a successful penalty conversion after Tree were penalised for a high tackle. 15-20.
But the black and ambers are made of stern stuff these days and came back hard at their opponents, exerting good pressure in the pack.
Numerous phases of play and extended pressure in Campion’s five-metre zone led to skipper John Smillie crossing the line to score, with Kingsley Joslin converting to edge Tree 22-20 in front.
Cue a nervous five minutes for coaches and supporters which finally abated on 77 minutes when Kingsley Joslin launched a kick out of defence.
Another great chase by Adams saw him gather up the ball to score, with that man Kingsley Joslin kicking the extra points to earn his side a 29-20 victory.
After the game Gilder said: “It was a great result and a fantastic feeling to get points on the board from our first game at London 3 level.
“With us having gone up and Campion having come down we were expecting a tough test and our new look front row was under pressure at the start of the game.
“They were a good side and played some really good rugby. I’m sure they travelled back very disappointed not to have taken more from the game.
“We pressured well in defence and were dangerous going forward from our own ball, turn over ball and especially kick chase.”
“The forwards dug deep and I felt they got better as the game went on and I’m sure they will get stronger going forward, especially as we have more tight five forwards to come back.
“The backs put in a superb performance and with the quality and depth available I am sure we will be troubling defences all season.”

Tree are back at Robbs Wood this Saturday (September 16th) when they entertain Clacton.

• Braintree’s 2nd XV narrowly lost 19-23 to Millwall at Robbs Wood on Saturday in their first merit table game.

BRUFC: Dann, Abbott, Adams, Willis, Keelan Joslin, Hine, Kingsley Joslin, Jones, W Turner, Colebrook, Apps, Carslake, Moss, Benfield, Smillie. Reps: Page, Drew