Pressure is building for starting berths in Braintree Rugby Club’s first-team side.

The Black and Ambers have continued their impressive opening to life in Essex League division one and sit second in the table after a 14-try demolition of Billericay at Robbs Wood.

The win moved Braintree back into second position in Essex One behind East London but with a game in hand and a better points difference than the leaders and the Black and Ambers’ selection committee are anticpating some difficult calls in coming weeks.

Chairman of selectors Dave Gilder said: “We know there will be tougher challenges to come but numbers in training have been excellent with great pressure for places.

“The selection committee will have some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks with the best depth to the squad that we have had for a couple of seasons.”

Braintree’s first-team didn’t have a fixture last weekend and return to Essex League action on December 5 when they travel to Stanford-le-Hope and manager Brian Joslin is pleased to see the senior teams doing well after a tough time last season.

He added: “This time last year the senior playing side of the club was in crisis and we were struggling to field one side of merit table level.

“Even at the start of this season we could only manage to put one senior side out, but with a lot work from managers, coaches and players, the first and second teams are now flourishing.

“We’d had a lot of close games in Essex One before the game against Billericay and I’m sure there are a lot tougher ones to follow as well.

“But we are definitely transitioning to a better place.”