CHESHUNT...22 BRAINTREE...45 (Pre-season friendly)

BRAINTREE sounded a warning note to their forthcoming opponents in
London North East Two with a ruthless seven-try victory over
Hertfordshire rivals Cheshunt.
The black and ambers took a 21-strong squad across the county border,
with six of their travelling party being drawn from the ranks of last
season’s Colts side.
And nobody made more of an impression than number eight Charlie
Marsden, who scored a stunning debut hat-trick and was cruelly denied a
fourth try by an unsighted ref.
Tree took just two minutes to open their account when Dan Johnson
drove over from a line-out deep in Cheshunt territory and Craig Willis
converted for a 7-0 lead.
The home side hit back on 11 minutes when the visitors lost the ball
in contact and fell victim to a counter-attacking move which ended in
an unconverted try.
But they moved into a dominant position again half way through the
first half when Marsden grabbed the first of his three tries.
Tree were pulled up for a forward pass but destroyed Cheshunt’s pack
in the resulting scrum and the young number eight charged down their
clearance kick before collecting the rebound to score.
Willis kicked the conversion to give his side a 14-5 lead but the
hosts weren’t prepared to lie down and give up.
With two minutes to go until the break Tree were penalised for going
in at the side from a ruck and their opponents took advantage with a
quick tap-and-go penalty to score under the posts.
The subsequent conversion brought them to within two points of the
visitors but before they could mount an assault on the lead the Essex
side re-established their authority.
Tom Green kicked to touch deep into Cheshunt territory and after the
home side were penalised for not throwing in straight Marsden picked up
from the scrum and drove over for his second score.
Willis did the honours with his boot to give Tree a 21-12 interval
lead which they extended on 45 minutes when the fly-half finished off a
fine forwards move to score an unconverted try of his own.
Cheshunt still weren’t ready to throw in the towel though and and
pulled a try back on 48 minutes before the visitors’ superior fitness
finally told.
Marsden was the man on the spot to complete his hat-trick when he
finished off a move started by fellow ex-Colt Ben Ladyman to score a
52nd minute try that was converted by Willis for a 33-17 lead.
Green rounded off another fine backs move 10 minutes later to knock
the stuffing out of the hosts before completing his own hat-trick with
10 minutes to go, Willis notching the conversion.
There was still time for Cheshunt to add another unconverted try as
the clock ticked down but the result was never in any serious doubt.
BRUFC chairman of selectors Jeff Lewis said: “It must have been the
earliest friendly we’ve ever played but everyone looked really sharp
and fit and the new lads performed superbly.
“Young Charlie Marsden had a storming game and should have a fourth
try only the ref was unsighted when he crossed the line with the ball.
“We used all 21 players we took and they all got at least 20 minutes
so it was a very useful workout and credit to Cheshunt who never gave
up.”
Tree entertain north east London side Eton Manor in a friendly at
Robbs Wood on September as they step-up their preparations for the
league’s opener away to Chelmsford on September 11.