In a close and fiercely contested encounter back in September, Brentwood lost the away fixture 20-17. Since then both clubs have remained mid-table with the home side one point ahead with 39 points from 16 matches.

For the home fixture, Director of Rugby Steve Killington was forced to make two changes to his back division. With regular fly-half Dan Whitehead injured, Charlie Chambers deputised while John Hilson came in at full-back instead of George Amato.

On a bright but very windy afternoon Brentwood kicked off up the slope. Initial play was keenly contested as both packs tried to gain superiority with driving pick and take moves. The intense pressure within the forwards saw blindside flanker James Metcalfe lose his cool and get red carded for punching. Brentwood were now down to fourteen players after only ten minutes, a handicap that was probably going to cost them a close match.

Old Colfeians, an average side in the backs, had territorial advantage, the slope, and a low setting sun behind them, but were unable to pierce Brentwood’s capable defence. Brentwood’s only chance in the first half was a penalty attempt by Chambers but the wind cruelly sent the ball off course.

The end of the half saw Brentwood camped in Old Colfeians’ twenty-two, but the visitors’ pack were up to the task and kept the home team from scoring. With the referee about to signal the break, the visitors broke down the undefended right wing and scored in the corner. The final tackle on the line was harshly adjudged to be high and thus dangerous and a penalty try was duly awarded by a very strict referee.

The first half saw Brentwood 0-7 down but much improved on their rather dismal performance the previous week. From the start the pack showed great determination and commitment while the back division had more structure with Hilson in the line.

The second half saw Brentwood start purposefully with their full-back almost going over for a try. With the visitors’ blindside flanker sin-binned, Chambers kicked his first penalty and with ten minutes of the half gone the points gap had closed to 3-7. However, Brentwood were becoming more and more frustrated by the referee and gave away an unnecessary penalty for abuse. Kicked against the wind, Old Colfeians increased their lead to 10-3.

With a large post-lunch crowd urging them on, the home side were awarded a penalty and the opposition’s second row was sin-binned. Chambers’ second penalty brought Brentwood back into the game at 6-10. However, Old Colfeians were next to score when, after a period of hammering on the home side’s line, a gap opened on the ruck’s blindside for an unconverted try.

At 6-15, Brentwood’s task in the last fifteen minutes was possible but not without a lot of patient play. Killington and Wyatt came on for Ben Amato and Tom Larkin as the visitors were reduced to thirteen men when their hooker was sin-binned for stamping. Playing against a weakened pack, Brentwood immediately drove a scrum back over the line for a Beith try. Unconverted, Brentwood were now 11-15 down with minutes to go. However, indiscipline and a spirited Old Colfeian defence prevented any further scoring.

Losing 11-15 this week was certainly not a disgrace. Brentwood were worthy of at least a draw but came away with only one point. Brentwood are now eighth in the league with 40 points with Old Colfeians seventh with 42 points.

Frustration in the last quarter cost Brentwood the match plus the Metcalfe red card earlier in the game. Criticism of the referee doesn’t win matches. The undoubted ability of this side will win future fixtures.

Man of the match was the young fly-half, Charlie Chambers, whose return of confidence and commitment was a pleasure to see.

Team: Sherwood, Northall, Bevans-Royston, King (c), Woodcock, Metcalfe, Beith, Amato, Green, Chambers, Dowler, Larkin, Wylie, Cowan and Hilson.

The next 1st XV match is away at Eton Manor on 28th January 2012 (ko 2.15).