Brentwood 7 North Walsham 55 (London & South East Division: North 1)
31st March 2012

by David Anderson

In December, Brentwood won a compelling match 19-12 on their first visit to North Walsham in the club’s 75-year history. Since then Brentwood have maintained a mid table position in the league while North Walsham have been languishing in the relegation zone. However, recent matches have seen them make a marked improvement.

This week saw changes to last week’s pack with captain Tom King returning from injury and Terry Snooks selected at hooker. Regulars in the pack Anthony Sherwood and John Beith were unavailable.

The game started with Brentwood kicking off upfield with a strong breeze and on a bone hard pitch. The pack again began strongly taking the game to their opponents. Unfortunately the visitor’s hooker damaged an ankle and had to be taken to hospital. This stoppage put an end to Brentwood’s start as the home team allowed North Walsham’s classy inside centre to dance through numerous tackles to score under the posts for a soft converted try.

The hard ground took its toll as minor injuries to both sides continued to mount during the match. The forward battle was being won by the visitors who were hungry for the ball and much quicker around the park. A penalty to North Walsham was converted by their kicker who went on to have an impressive match.

Making no headway uphill in the first quarter, Brentwood finally attacked on their opponent’s five-metre line but North Walsham’s defence held out.

With the end of the first half approaching, the visitors drove downfield but their touchdown was disallowed for a knock-on on the try-line. This lucky let-off for Brentwood soon evaporated as successive North Walsham forward drives ended with a try under the posts bringing the half time score to 17-0.

The score reflected North Walsham’s forward play in the loose and the speed and skill of their backs. Again this week, Brentwood were struggling in most departments except the tight. Their supporters hoped for an improvement in the second half as the team turned to play downfield.

However, with scrum-half Luke Green temporarily injured, North Walsham’s inside centre again strode easily through Brentwood’s defence to score another converted try. With the home side looking increasingly fragile in defence, they were the next team to score. After a period of intense pressure on North Walsham’s line, full-back Dan Whitehead skipped through the off balanced defence to score Brentwood’s sole try. Fly-half Charlie Chambers converted to bring the score to 7-24.

The visitors then turned the screw further when their fly-half went through a series of non-tackles to score his side’s fourth try. Another converted try soon followed as Brentwood collapsed against a fitter and more determined outfit.

The home side’s misery continued as North Walsham piled on the pressure. John Sproul (prop) and Declan Gillett (winger) came on to replace Terry Snooks and George Amato. With Brentwood’s tackling at head height or non-existent, the visitors scored another two unconverted tries and one converted try to bring the final score to 55-7. A great display from North Walsham that might save them from relegation this year.

Brentwood, whose early season form has probably kept them out of relegation, were never in this game. The rigours of a hard season in a top highly competitive league with such a small squad is now showing on the team as a whole. Next week’s Easter break allows a welcome period of rest before the last two games of the season, respectively against Colchester (away, April 14th) and Rochford Hundred (home, April 21st).

Brentwood drop to 9th in the league and North Walsham stay in 12th position.

Team: Northall, Snooks, Bevans-Royston, Woodcock, Killington, Metcalfe, King (capt), Amato (B), Green, Chambers, Smith (C), Thomas, Wylie, Amato (B), and Whitehead.