MALDON 17

BRAINTREE 32

Essex League division one B

BRAINTREE Rugby Club went five points clear at the top of the Essex League division one B table as they got the better of fellow promotion rivals Maldon.

The Black and Ambers came out of the blocks quickly, with an early penalty being kicked by Craig Willis for a 3-0 lead, but the game then became a gruelling arm-wrestle.

On 25 minutes, though, Braintree started to gain the upper hand in the scrum and went on the attack ,with number eight John Smillie picking up from the base and breaking forward before passing to Fergus Rollit-Mason.

He slipped the ball back inside to fly-half Josh Hine to race in for a clinical try that was converted by Willis and their 10-0 lead was stretched further when a clearance kick bounced conveniently into the arms of chasing winger James Moore who collected it and charged away to score.

Braintree were looking comfortable at 15-0 and centre James Abbott then got in on the act with a try from yet another strong scrum, which Willis converted to put his side 22-0 to the good.

Maldon were clearly rattled but some good phases of possession and offside infringements by Braintree eventually led to a penalty try which was converted as the Black and Ambers led 22-7 at half-time.

Maldon came out strongly after the break and scored a second unconverted try, but Braintree worked their way into Maldon’s 22 straight from the re-start and a penalty kick from Willis steadied the ship.

They then scored the try of the game on the hour mark.

Another strong scrum led to Smillie picking up at the base and breaking to the right where the ball was re-cycled from the ruck and passed out to Hine, whose deft pass found Abbott, who ran in his second try of the game under the posts, with Willis converting for a 32-12 lead.

The hosts did add another try late on, but Braintree finished comfortably ahead as they won 32-17.

Braintree: Dann, J Moore, Abbott, Willis, Rollit-Mason, Hine, Martindale, Halford, Jones, Prince, Apps, Johnston, L Turner, W Turner, Smillie. Reps: Baker, Moss, Page.

n Braintree seconds gave a good account of themselves and were level at 7-7 in their fixture at Eton Manor seconds, but they were eventually beaten 38-7.