After last week’s thrilling home win against second in the league Colchester, Brentwood travelled to the Oakfield Ground to meet local rivals Thurrock. Back in September the visitors had shell-shocked Thurrock with a 20-11 win and so the return match, with the home side now top of the league table, was going to be particularly difficult.

Forced to make changes on both wings, Director of Rugby Steve Killington brought in James Cowen and Richie Wyatt to replace Scott Dowler and Ryan Dee.

With a late 3.00pm kick off, Brentwood began the match on a gloomy and bitterly cold afternoon. Again the visitors started well, winning two early penalties and with the pack dominating proceedings, the backs went close to scoring. Keeping the pressure in Thurrock’s 22, Brentwood were first to score when centre John Wylie cut back inside and touched down for a try. Fly-half Dan Whitehead converted and after ten minutes the visitors had a well deserved lead at 7-0.

Whitehead had a drop goal attempt charged down but Brentwood maintained their superiority of territory and possession as play went into the second quarter.

However, with the large home ground strangely silent Thurrock ran in their first try when a loose ball was gathered by their star New Zealand centre, Michael Stanley. From the centre line his curved run outflanked the Brentwood defence for a fine individualist try. Unconverted, the score saw Brentwood still ahead 7-5 as Thurrock’s No.4 Kyle Tucker was sin-binned for a rucking offence.

Well into the second quarter, number eight John Beith was also sin-binned after a penalty given in the tackle zone. With the ball on the tee and aiming for the posts, Thurrock’s kicker changed direction and kicked to his right wing who gathered and scored an unconverted try. A confusing decision by the referee as Brentwood’s team and staff were convinced that such a move was contrary to the rules of the game.

Thurrock were now fired up for the first time as their right winger went through several poor tackles to score their third try. With Beith back on, Brentwood’s pack continued to edge their opponents in the tight and won a penalty in front of the posts. Converted by Whitehead, the score had narrowed to 10-15. After continual infringements in the ruck, Thurrock’s flanker Cooper-Hicks was sin-binned.

However, a poor decision to kick ahead rather than retain possession allowed Thurrock’s Stanley to cut through Brentwood’s non-existent defence to score another unconverted try.

With Thurrock ahead 20-10 at half time, the visitors could only blame themselves for being behind. Outplaying Thurrock’s pack was only one aspect of the game. Giving the ball away in the loose allowed the home side to use their able backs, led by Stanley, to score four unconverted tries.

Into the second half with both teams back at full strength, a scrummaging offence gave Brentwood a penalty. Converted by Whitehead, the visitors closed to 13-20. However, another mistake saw Thurrock kick ahead and touch down their fifth unconverted try.

With Beith leading their play, Brentwood were more than holding their own in the tight. However, constant errors in tactics or execution was allowing Thurrock to dictate play in the loose. Pressure was now building in Brentwood’s 22. A well thrown line-out ball saw the home side’s prop gallop in for Thurrock’s sixth try. Converted the home side were well ahead at 32-13.

However, Brentwood’s pack were still committed as second-row Josh Woodcock drove over for Brentwood’s second converted try.

With only minutes left, Thurrock put on a final burst to score a penalty and another converted try.

At 40-20 Thurrock were worthy winners and remain top of the league with 58 points. A performance led from start to finish by their class centre Michael Stanley. The visitors remain in sixth place with 37 points. Coming off two notable wins, Brentwood played with confidence and a lot of promise but were let down by some poor loose play and the odd missed tackle at critical moments. The first half of the season has been most encouraging for this small squad and promises well for 2012.

Man of the match was young scrum-half Luke Green who played with great
determination for eighty minutes.

Team: Sherwood, Northall, Bevans-Royston (J), King (Capt), Woodcock, Metcalfe, Beith, Amato, Green, Whitehead, Cowen, Thomas, Wylie, Wyatt, and Larkin.

The next 1st XV match is at home against third placed Letchworth Garden City on 7th January 2012 (ko 2.15).

Report by
David Anderson