THETFORD...32 BRAINTREE...29 (RFU Vase)

BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2016/17 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.
Report by D Gilder and J Troup

THETFORD...32 BRAINTREE...29 (RFU Vase)

BRAINTREE were knocked out of the RFU Vase and lost their 100 per cent record to boot after being narrowly defeated in a pulsating cup tie.
The black and ambers knew they faced a tough test as their opponents had won all but one of their league games in their journey to the top of Eastern Counties 1 prior to Saturday’s clash.
But they will be desperately disappointed to have relinquished their perfect playing record after they were undone by the efforts of an individual player.
Thetford’s fly-half scored 27 of his side’s 32 points in a scintillating display which saw him put the black and ambers to the sword virtually single-handed.
The stand-off signalled his intentions in the 12th minute when after good pressure from Tree the home side were forced into a drop-out 22.
He caught the visitors napping with a little tap to himself before rocketing off down the pitch, evading a string of fruitless challengers to score before missing the conversion. 0-5.
Tree hit back on 24 minutes when skipper John Smillie touched down after strong carries from 2nd rows Wes Apps and Tinashe Mlambo and tight head prop Jamie Prince.
Craig Willis converted the score to put Tree 7-5 ahead but into the lead but Thetford quickly notched a penalty to squeak an 8-7 lead.
Tree were caught out again on the half-hour mark when an attempted kick through during an attacking move was plucked out of the air by one of the Thetford centres.
He ran in unopposed to score his side’s second try with the mercurial fly-half converting the score to stretch the hosts’ lead to 15-7.
Smillie soon clawed back five points with his second try of the game from the base of a five-metre scrum. 12-15.
But the Thetford 10 then danced his way past six tackles to complete his brace before converting his own score to give his side a 22-12 interval lead.
Tree got straight back in the hunt after the break when Thetford’s re-start failed to go 10 metres and they took the option of a scrum on half way.
Clean ball and a great kick to touch by scrum half Joss Adams followed by a superb line-out steal by Apps enabled Prince to crash over for a score which Willis converted to narrow the gap to 19-22.
But just as they looked poised to steal control the home side’s stand-off intervened again, kicking a penalty before running from inside his own 22 to complete his hat-trick in stunning style.
The fly-half’s conversion stretched his side’s advantage to 32-19 and it looked odds-on that Tree would suffer their first defeat of the 2016/17 season.
But the men from Essex dominated the last quarter, forcing a string of infringements by Thetford at the scrum which mysteriously failed to see the ref reaching for his yellow card.
Good ruck ball from one of the resulting scrums led to winger Tom Drew squeezing over in the corner to score an unconverted try and reduce the deficit to 24-32.
With 10 minutes to go Tree powered forward from another successful scrum, enabling Smillie to complete his hat-trick with another unconverted score. 29-32.
Thetford were pegged back inside their own 22 for the remainder of the game and the final whistle was greeted with much relief by the home players and their fans alike.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “We were aware from our scouting and intelligence gathering efforts that Thetford had a classy fly-half.
“We never imagined he would end up scoring 27 points. I don't want to take anything away from Thetford, who are a good side, but he was the difference on the day.
“We bossed the scrums and with the whole side showing great guts and determination in the final quarter we came as close as we possibly could to stealing a victory at the death.”
Joint Coach Brian Joslin added: “I'm immensely proud of the team’s effort. We finished the game stronger and Thetford were glad to hear the final whistle.
“James Moore and skipper John Smillie both had fine games but all 19 players in the squad gave their all. It was a great game and a shame we had to end up on the losing side for once.”
Tree return to Canterbury Jack Essex 1B action this Saturday when they entertain Maldon at Robbs Wood.
* Braintree’s academy side warmed up for this weekend's National Colts Cup match against Guildford by beating Thurrock Colts 54-5.
BRUFC: Dann, J Moore, Abbott, Rollit-Mason, Thomas, Willis, Adams, M Turner, Coote, Prince, Apps, Mlambo, Carslake, W Turner, Smillie. Reps: Perry, Benfield, Williams, Crane.