WOODFORD-17 v BRAINTREE-33

After a promising start and going into the lead early in the second half the boys eventually succumbed to the stronger Braintree team on thos vital league game which has probably sealed our fate in dropping into the league below.

The first half was a pretty even affair, both teams traded one try a piece, ours coming from Louis Blake who powered over after a typical Woodford forwards display of many phases of play, gaining yardage all the time, half time score was 5-7 in favour of our visitors.

The second half started with a bang as our classy number 8 Henri Hobbs broke free from a few Braintree tackles to run the ball in from the half way line, this was cooly converted by Matthew Unwin. It was inexplicably from this point of being 5 points in front that we seemed to go backwards, was it a lack of belief or a lack of fitness? Maybe the boys thought they had it in the bag and were going to go on from there to win comfortably, I do not know, but I do know that Braintree lads quickly levelled the scores again, then with their tails up going on to add another three tries in the next ten minutes to put the game almost out of reach.

Cade Carter-Thomas added a late consolation try but it was too little, too late, and Braintree went on to add another to put the match to bed.

A well done to Braintree who by this result almost definitely secure their spot in Division 1 for next season, and a sad day for Woodford, however we have a cup game to come as well as one last chance to get some points in this league campaign against Maldon, let's do it boys for some pride, let's do it for the coaches, let's do it for the parents, but most of all do it for yourself, let's get some points on that board, we deserve it, we are good enough.