BRAINTREE 31

WRITTLE WANDERERS 26

Friendly

RUNAWAY Essex 1B leaders Braintree were awarded a home walkover after opponents Writtle Wanderers contacted them in midweek to concede the game, saying they would only be able to field a weakened side.

The Black and Ambers were accordingly credited with a 39-0 victory which leaves them 16 points clear of their nearest rivals Canvey Island.

Despite forfeiting the league points, Writtle informed Braintree that they still planned to travel and would like to play.

So as a result the home side rested ten first-team players, gave a handful to their second string and put out a scratch mixed ability side which was still strong enough to secure a 31-26 friendly win.

Writtle, looking similar personnel-wise to the side which fulfilled the corresponding fixture earlier in the season, started the stronger and quickly scored a converted try.

But Braintree drew level on 18 minutes when scrum-half George Crane scored after a strong break from the base of a scrum and Adam Kendrick converted to make it 7-7.

Ten minutes later, flanker Mikey Benfield scored after a penalty kick to touch was followed by a trademark catch and drive move from the line-out and on 38 minutes, debutant Kendrick joined in the try scoring following a driving maul after another catch and drive move by the Braintree forwards.

Kendrick the kicked the extra points to give his side a 19-7 interval lead.

Writtle started strongly in the second half and scored three tries in the first 15 minutes, converting two of them, to take a 26-19 lead.

But winger Fergus Rollit-Mason steadied the Black and Ambers' ship with a fine individual try run in from the halfway line.

Kendrick converted to level the scores at 26-26 and Braintree sealed the game on 76 minutes courtesy of a pacy run from another debutant, Ben Gough, following a strong break by number eight Neil Richards.

Braintree: Carroll, T Drew, S Drew, Rollit-Mason, Budd, Kendrick, Crane, Aldridge, W Turner, Elsdon, Carslake, Fitzearle, Williams, Benfield, Richards. Reps: Gough.