After last week’s disappointing loss away to Tring, Brentwood had much to prove to themselves as they entertained local rivals Chelmsford at King Georges on Saturday. Chelmsford were promoted this season to London 1 having finished champions of London 2 North East at the end of last season. This was the first time in 7 years that the two sides have met, with league points at stake.
Brentwood head coach Steve Killington, was far from happy with the previous week’s performance, looking for far more accuracy and urgency from his players in this a must win game if, the club were to continue with their challenge for promotion.

Brentwood won the toss, and skipper Josh Woodcock elected to play against the slope in the first half and into a strong wind. The first 40 minutes proved to be a fairly drab affair with neither side dominating the game. Chelmsford seemed to have the advantage at scrum time, but their attacks were pretty easily defended by Brentwood with some good tackling all round, with, as usual, the Brentwood number 7 leading the way.
The half back partnership of Tom Simpson and Henry Bird were also clearing their lines well with the half ending nil all. Brentwood’s only real opportunity to open their account was an early penalty kick which the usually reliable Henry Bird failed to convert.

Brentwood started the second half with the wind at their back and playing down the slope should have, with these advantages taken control of the game. But, it was Chelmsford who dominated the early exchanges and they took the lead early in the half when a penalty was scored following an infringement by Brentwood at the scrum. 3 – 0 to Chelmsford.

Coach Killington rung the changes with the Brentwood side bringing on scrum half Henry Galligan, and moving Tom Simpson to the centre. With changes in the pack bringing on James Vogel for his league debut and the young prop Louis Payne.

Up until the 60th minute, very little changed all of the Brentwood attacks were easily dealt with by the Chelmsford defence and try as they might Brentwood were unable to pass the ball out wide to play the expansive game which had been so successful earlier in the campaign. The game seemed to be heading towards a home defeat for the first time this season but as it became darker Brentwood suddenly found some form and as Chelmsford tired in the last 20 minutes the home side ran in five tries four of which were converted by Henry Bird.

Firstly the forwards drove the Chelmsford pack towards their line and the veteran number 8 Tom King carried the ball over, secondly after James Vogel won a line out, the ball was taken on by captain Josh Woodcock, fed to the backs and passed swiftly out to full back Declan Gillett who skipped through the Chelmsford defence to score.

Further driving play by the forwards and good quick effective passing by the backs led to further tries being scored in very quick succession. A second try for Tom King, front row Kieran Skurr blasting with a good run down the wing and going over placing under the posts, followed some minutes later by Henry Bird touching down for the last try of the afternoon.
Brentwood as full time winners by 33 points to 3, a scoreline which had seemed improbable some 20 minutes earlier. Brentwood also earned the all important bonus point.

This win took Brentwood back to the top of the table with 44 points, closely followed by local rivals Thurrock and next week’s away opposition Amersham and Chiltern, both on 43 points.

The Chigwell Construction man of the match deservedly went to Kieran Skurr.