Bury St Edmunds vs Brentwood - Report by David Anderson

This was a game Brentwood are best to forget in a hurry. Bury's tactics and fast handling totally outplayed a Brentwood team which was slow to start and, apart from the third quarter, unable to win and maintain enough possession. In parts Bury played some of the best rugby Brentwood have seen all season and the result sees them drop a place to 10th in the division.

With mounting injuries, director of rugby, Steve Killington was forced to make four changes from the team that won the previous week against Tabard. Aston Bevans-Royston and Matt Skinner returned at second row and centre after injury and Ben Amato and Michael Dennis moved to number eight and left wing. Bury kicked off and within five minutes had scored the first try. A move by Bury's back line, a missed Brentwood tackle and the home side had scored an easy unconverted try.

Brentwood were kept under pressure with Bury's expansive style of rugby and with only 15 minutes gone a second unconverted try was scored. A missed penalty by flay-half Dan Whitehead was followed by Bury's third try. This time it was converted and the end of the first quarter came with Bury holding a comfortable 17-0 lead. Brentwood had been unable to get into the game and at this stage, with poor tackling, were decidedly looking second best.

Another penalty miss by Whitehead was followed by Bury's fourth try, scored by Dwaine Brown, their South African coach. Now brimming with confidence, Bury kept the pressure on Brentwood by attacking at every opportunity. However, the next score came from Brentwood. A penalty followed by a line-out drive and flanker Chris Holden scored. Converted by Whitehead the score was a sign that the visitors were at last getting into the game.

The interval came just after the conversion of Bury's fifth try as Brentwood turned around 29-7 down. It was a half dominated by Bury's ploy to keep the ball live whenever possible. Brentwood's cause was not helped by some woeful tackling particularly in the back line.

The second half started with the visitors in more resolute mood. With Bury's prop, Matt Bell yellow carded, Brentwood pack attacked the gain line. Scrum-half Luke Green opened play from the base of the scrum to send right winger Graeme Smith in for the visitors' second try and a score of 29-12. Brentwood's pack continued to dominate their opponents and another line-out drive saw second row Josh Woodcock push over for the try. Again the conversion was missed but the score was now down to 29-17.

Charlie Chambers came off the bench for Mike Dennis as Brentwood's purple patch came to an end. With flanker James Metcalfe yellow carded for fighting, Bury attacked the blindside and scored their sixth try. Amato was replaced by Charlie Russo as the visitors strived for a fourth try and a bonus point. However, Brentwood's best player of the day, Holden, was unluckily yellow carded for kicking the ball away following a penalty decision by the referee.

With the pack down to six, Bury picked up another easy, converted try. With Metcalfe back on the visitors tried desperately for a final try. Camping on Bury's line and chasing the game the home side eventually cleared up field and ran through Brentwood's non-existent defence to score another converted try and give them a 48-17 and five points.