Braintree shine under the floodlights

Captain's report

A brilliant win against a strong Maldon team for our last home game of the season. We played the game with strong intensity in the forwards giving the backs time on the ball which lead to some great team tries. Our tackling was very strong which meant it was hard for them to make any ground and with some strong turnovers we kept a lot of possession. Which we then scored more points extending our lead, it was a shame to drop our defence and let them score a try but we came back and scored after to get the last try of the game. A great team performance under a flood lit pitch which I think everyone enjoyed.
From Jack

Match Report

The timings of the Essex festival led to us being unable to play our regular Sunday fixture. Knowing how much the boys loved the floodlit fixture last year, we thought we'd give them the opportunity to play their last home XV game of this season in a similar fashion. We must thank Maldon for stepping into the breech and agreeing to come and play.

Despite a shaky warm up the boys came out of the blocks the more spritely of the two teams. A few strong, foraging runs down the flanks put early pressure onto Maldon and left us deep in their half. A solid scrum on their 22 gave Oli Kempster the opportunity to snipe round the blind side and put an early score on the board and settle the home crowd! Some tough tackling from all quarters limited Maldon's time on the ball and prevented their strong running backs from making ground. This resulted in them resorting to a kicking game to try and exploit the space behind our high press, but we were solid under high ball and ran strongly to score with Harry Mclaggan adding two tries on the board, one of which was converted and we were 17-0 up and beginning to play some quality rugby.

The forwards were solid at securing the ruck which gave the half backs time to free up the back line to play some lovely running rugby and put in some deft kicks to try and exploit the space that was behind Maldon's defensive line. Combinations of forwards and backs play lead to Archie Douglas and Harry McLaggan adding two more between them before half time. 27-0 at the break and the intensity had been high throughout the half. The scoreline didn't reflect the effort that Maldon had put into the first half and Braintree were made to work hard for the space they were creating and the yards they were gaining.

The second half started very similarly to the first, with Oli Kempster creating a hole in the Maldon defence which he was able to exploit and open the scoring. Continued pressure at the rucks saw us win a number of turnovers and pile the pressure onto Maldon, which to their credit they defended with aplomb. This pressure was also applied in defence which drove Maldon back towards their lines and a spilled ball was kicked through close to the Maldon line and a fast footed Luis won the race to touch the ball down. Tackling had been very solid throughout the game but a couple of lapses allowed Maldon to break through and put a try on the board which was testament to their determination not to give up. Maldon could have scored a couple more but for some very solid tackling from Cooper, James Raine and Callum and some effective clearance kicks which put the pressure back on Maldon by taking us deep into their 22. Callum took advantage of the loose line out from Maldon and drove over the line for the final try of the game which was converted with a drop kick from Cooper!

Riding high on the back of their victories on tour the boys put on a display to be proud of. To a man they tackled, rucked, scrummaged and passed beautifully and despite a strong opposition put in an excellent performance that gave Maldon little time or space with which to play.