SOUTHEND III 12 BRAINTREE II 20

BL Merit Table Division Two Plate final

Braintree Rugby Club’s second string finally gave the club something to smile about after a wretched season when they won the BL Merit Table Division Two Plate final with a hard-earned victory over Southend’s Development side.

Having made the tough decision to withdraw their senior side from London League division two north east earlier in the season due to a lack of numbers, the Black and Ambers badly needed a tonic to end the campaign on a high.

And they got it on the neutral ground of Westcliff as they recovered from a slow start to secure a morale-boosting triumph over the talented youngsters of a club much higher up the RFU pyramid.

Southend scored an early unconverted try, but Braintree restored parity when scrum-half Darren Page broke from the base of a scrum and exchanged a quick one-two with George Crane to level matters.

And it was the north Essex side who crept into the lead just before half-time when a Joss Adams penalty edged them 8-5 in front.

Southend piled on the pressure at the start of the second half and took a 12-8 lead, but Braintree regained the lead ten minutes from time.

A break out from their own 22 by number eight Nick Spearman was continued by Adams, who passed to winger James Abbott enabling him to race away and score under the posts.

Adams converted for a 15-12 advantage and the Black and Ambers wrapped up the game and claimed the silverware five minutes later when Crane broke away and winger Tim Ashford scored out wide for a 20-12 victory.