We headed home cold but happy

Braintree Black 9 vs Upper Clapton 15

Tries – Alex Williamson (2), Eliot Jones

Braintree opened the scoring through Alex Williamson. He took advantage of the space opened up by Ben Cakebread's cross-field run. Upper Clapton hit back with two quick tries, one scored in the corner and the other after Braintree were unable to defend a scrum close to their line.
Alex Williamson scored again to bring the scores level just before half time, running in from distance.

Braintree re-established their lead early in the second half when the whole team retained the ball well through several tackles to feed Eliot Jones. He sped up the line from halfway, doing well to avoid going into touch.

Unfortunately Braintree were unable to hold the lead, concerted Upper Clapton pressure resulting in three further tries

Braintree Amber 9 vs Upper Clapton 6

Tries – Flynn Macgregor, Callum Thompson, Ben Weager

As in the first match Braintree opened the scoring, Flynn Macgregor running in after a good pass from a Braintree scrum. There were no further scores in the first half, although Braintree piled on the pressure for long periods without being able to move the ball quickly enough to trouble the Upper Clapton defence.

Upper Clapton scored straight from the second half re-start, thanks to a collective lapse in concentration by Braintree. Braintree re-took the lead when Callum Thompson emerged from a pile of bodies as the beneficiary of a pushover try from about 5metres out.

Upper Clapton almost scored again straight from the re-start but were stopped just short of the Braintree line. However, they thwarted the Braintree efforts to clear their lines and took advantage of a turn over to level the scores.

This time Braintree were not to be denied and Freddie Moss-Prout set off on a marauding run that was stopped centimetres from the line. Ben Weager received the pass from the resulting Braintree scrum and crossed for the winning try in the dying seconds.

After taking a while to get over the weather enforced layoff, Braintree began to remember how to play rugby and ended the morning on a high. Upper Clapton proved to be tricky opponents who were effective at turning over ball in the tackle, but vulnerable when the ball was moved quickly along the line.