Writtle Wanderers 5 - 33 Braintree

BRAINTREE remain at the top of Essex One going into Christmas after a convincing away victory against Writtle Wanderers.
The black and ambers were forced to reshuffle their team due to the late unavailability of some key players but still managed to maintain their 100 per cent record.

A howling gale welcomed the two sides onto the pitch and the conditions played a big part in proceedings, with both teams seeming to play better against the wind.
Tree started with the wind at their backs and the assumption that a big points cushion would be needed before the turnaround,
They went ahead after just five minutes from their own line-out when a driving maul saw the ball worked out to the backs for Joss Adams to crash over and score, Kyle Crush converting for a 7-0 lead.
Ten minutes later Tree’s superior pack won a scrum against the head on Writtle’s five-metre line enabling number eight Nick Spearman to drop onto a push-over try.
Despite the swirling wind Crush kicked the extra points to put his side 14-0 in front and that’s how the score stayed until half-time.
Tree’s management team were still wondering if their lead was big enough with Writtle now having the wind at their backs when the visitors drew first blood only a minute into the second period.
Winning a free-kick on the halfway line for a scrum infringement they set off on the attack and several phases of play culminated with skipper Tom Carslake scoring try number three after throwing an outrageous dummy. 19-0.
On 49 minutes another free kick for the visitors allowed fly-half Craig Willis to crash through and score try number four, Crush kicking his third conversion to stretch the lead to 26-0.
Writtle had worked hard all game and despite the scoreline had provided Tree with some of their toughest opposition of the season to date.
And their efforts were rewarded after 66 minutes when they hit back to score an unconverted try of their own and reduce the deficit to 26-5.
But 11 minutes later Tree reopened the gap when Adams chipped through for Crush to gather on the bounce and score under the posts before converting his own try for 33-5.

BRUFC Chair of Selectors Dave Gilder said: “This was a tough test despite what the scoreline suggests but we showed good game sense and played well to the conditions.
“There was some great scrummaging and ball carrying by the forwards and the backs made full use of their chances.
“It was a very accomplished defensive performance by the whole team and particularly satisfying considering we had to make changes in every row of the scrum.”

BRUFC Team Manager Brian Joslin added: “We were forced into making late changes this week due to a few of our players being unavailable and a late cry-off.
“But the players who came in stepped up to the challenge and although Writtle defended really well from start to finish they just couldn't get enough ball to trouble us much.
“Neil Fitzearle, Lloyd Hardin and Nick Spearman were great in the pack and Joss Adams had a great game in the backs, being superb in both defence and attack.”

Next week Tree, six of whose nine wins to date have come on the road, entertain Bancroft at Robbs Wood looking to round off 2015 by making it 10 wins out of 10.
BRUFC: Whyatt, Abbott, J Young (Evans), Adams, K Crush, Willis, Page, Hardin, Jones, Perry, Aldridge, Fitzearle, Carslake, C Stephens (Benfield), Spearman.

Braintree’s 2nd team travelled away to top of the table Wanstead on Saturday and put in a creditable performance, losing 26-15. Tries by Dan Olley & Tom Drew Penalty and conversion by Dan Olley