Away win for the Academy

Match report – Sunday 6th November 2016

Braintree Academy v Saffron Walden (away) – Won 24-12

Braintree made the trip to Hertfordshire for this friendly match on a crisp, sunny autumn day which grew steadily colder and less sunny as the game progressed. Braintree kicked off into the strong wind, which blew from end to end and was to be a feature of the game for both sides. Immediately Saffron Walden returned with a long kick that took them into the Braintree 22. Braintree won the first two line-outs but found it hard to get out of their 22. Saffron Walden won an attacking line-out and their fly-half ghosted past some missed tackles, but fortunately the ball went loose and was recovered by Dan McLagan. Saffron Walden won another line-out on the Braintree 22 but Braintree’s defence held firm.

As Saffron Walden’s handling let them down due to the cold and Braintree’s rush defence, Braintree started to get into the game through their scrum. A Braintree penalty gave an attacking line-out on the Saffron Walden 22 but the referee adjudged the throw-in to be dummied. Braintree’s rush defence forced a scrum on the Saffron Walden 22 but now their hands let them down and Saffron Walden cleared with a long kick into the Braintree half.

After a couple of Braintree line-outs again the ball was turned over, forcing Keelan Joslin to make a fine tackle on the right wing. Just as it looked as though Braintree’s defence was starting to dominate, the ball went loose and the Saffron Walden full-back ran through some poor tackling to score under the posts. A poor kick from a relatively straight forward position meant it was 0-5 after 15 minutes.

Saffron Walden tried to run the Braintree kick-off but were held and Braintree awarded a scrum on the Saffron Walden 10 metre line. The referee adjudged Saffron Walden to engage early and Braintree took the free kick quickly. Joe Meade made a fine break going right, Lyon Winterbourne straightened the line and took out several would-be tacklers and fed Joe, who passed to Alex Eveleigh to put Bailey Hamilton in for the try to the left of the posts and a fine team effort. Keelan was unable to convert into the wind so the score was 5-5 after 18 minutes.

Bailey caught the kick-off but the maul was held up and Saffron Walden attacked through their number 8 from the subsequent scrum. Harry Armstrong now replaced Ollie Boyle, Jack Edwards moving to number 8, and Billy Carroll, making a welcome return following serious shoulder problems, came on at scrum-half, Keelan moving to fly-half in place of Tom Bickers. A Braintree miskick led to Saffron Walden kicking long over the Braintree try line; Bailey won the 22 drop out and the pack drove to the 10 metre line.

Braintree started to exert scrum pressure, Dan McLagan and the front row taking the ball against the head, but the wind contributed to handling errors by both sides. After 27 minutes Saffron Walden won a scrum just inside their half and kicked, Lyon returned but Braintree were penalised in the ensuing ruck. Saffron Walden kicked for the line-out which Jack Edwards did well to challenge but could only tap back over the try-line for a Saffron Walden scrum. Dan again took against the head but the referee ordered a re-set. Saffron Walden attacked through their left wing but the referee came back for a penalty advantage which Saffron Walden ran quickly, again Braintree’s defence holding firm.

From a Braintree scrum on half-way the backs moved right, Keelan looped round Joe and outstripped the defence for a fine run in to score under the posts, Billy converting for a 12-5 lead after 32 minutes.

Zach Weitz now replaced Jared Woolgar and Jack Munro replaced Ryan Leather as further handling errors by both sides saw the referee blow for half-time.

Saffron Walden kicked off for the second half knowing they were playing into the strong wind so immediately tried to pressurise Braintree. Braintree’s scrum continued the first half dominance. After 5 minutes of the second half there was a brief stoppage following an injury to a Saffron Walden player. When play continued Saffron Walden ran a penalty but lost the ball, Billy broke left but his pass was adjudged forward. Braintree exerted pressure at the subsequent scrum enabling the defence to get up quickly. Ollie now came on for Cameron Laudrum.

From a scrum on the Saffron Walden 10 metre line Keelan again broke. There was a stoppage for an injury to Jack Munro who was replaced by Ryan. Using the wind Braintree now exerted pressure. A Saffron Walden line-out 5 metres out was not straight, but Braintree failed to prevent Saffron Walden wheeling the subsequent scrum. From another scrum Billy broke blind but Saffron Walden regathered the ball. The scrum-half looked left to run out of defence but passed straight to Will Lawrence who sprinted to the line to score under the posts, Billy converting with a drop kick for a 19-5 lead after 13 minutes of the second half.

From the kick-off Ryan was hurt and replaced by Jared. Saffron Walden did not give up and attacked strongly. A penalty in the Braintree 22 was taken quickly but Jack Edwards produced an excellent jackal to clear the danger.

Saffron Walden managed to win a scrum under pressure, then took a quick penalty which was repelled by a driving tackle from Will. Braintree were offside, Saffron Walden again took the penalty quickly and were rewarded for their efforts when they drove over to the right of the posts for a try, successfully converted for a score of 19-12 after 21 minutes of the second half.

Joe now came in to fly-half, Keelan moving to scrum half as Billy left the field to be replaced by Tom. The match continued to ebb and flow, Braintree’s now more dominant scrum and Saffron Walden’s line out problems not yielding results as Braintree’s handling continued to let them down.

Ryan now came back on for Jared (!) (‘guadia cetaminis’) and after 30 minutes of the second half Harry was replaced by Cameron after being hurt in a tackle. Braintree won a line-out in their half and the ball was kicked long. Ryan showed good awareness to follow up the kick and was rewarded as the ball bounced kindly to enable him to get to within 5 metres of the Saffron Walden try line. Tom backed up and scored a try out on the right. Keelan was unable to convert the difficult kick and the referee blew for full-time and a final score of 24-12. A tense match, vigorously contested by both sides in difficult conditions.

Squad (starting 15 first): Jack Grant, Dan McLagan, Callum Ticker, Will Lawrence, Bailey Hamilton, Cameron Laudrum, Jack Edwards (c), Ollie Boyle, Keelan Joslin, Tom Bickers, Jared Woolgar, Alex Eveleigh, Joe Meade, Ryan Leather, Lyon Winterbourne, Harry Armstrong, Billy Carroll, Zach Weitz, Jack Munro.

Tea report (by Will Lawrence): Saffron Walden served up a very tasty dish of chilli, rice and garlic bread, appropriately spicy and in good-sized portions. Second helpings were offered automatically without any prompting leading to consideration of a very promising three stars. On a technical note it has been reported to me that there was no food available to the spectators to purchase, which would ordinarily result in an automatic deduction of half a point but on balance I am prepared to ignore this oversight and the award of three stars stands.