In front of a crowd of 500+, at King Georges Playing Fields, last Saturday, Brentwood entertained old adversaries, Thurrock, in a no holds barred, blood and thunder local derby. Not only where Essex bragging rights up for grabs, but also the very important matter of league points, as unbeaten Brentwood, top of the table, took on 3rd placed Thurrock.
Brentwood won the toss, and skipper Josh Woodcock elected to play up the slope in the 1st half, the home side traditionally slow starters were straight into their stride and territorially dominated the game from the start and raced into early 10 -0 lead. With a penalty slotted over by the ever reliable, Henry Bird and a try finished off by Declan Gillette, after an excellent inter change of passes by both forwards and backs, converted by Bird
Brentwood where then forced on the defensive, and half way through the half, after surviving some intense pressure, Thurrock broke through the home side defence to score a good try, which thankfully was not converted, taking the score to 10 – 5
Brentwood came back strongly, trying to run the ball at every opportunity, and scored a further try when hooker Jon Crisp, crashed over the line after the forwards had set up a driving maul, Bird converted yet again, taking the score to 17 – 5.
The remainder of the half saw Thurrock dominating, but superb tacking by the Brentwood players limited the visitors to one further try and a penalty, taking the half time score to 17 – 13 in the home sides favour with the advantage to come in the 2nd half of playing down the slope
Although playing up the slope in the second half, Thurrock were on the attack for most of the time, but with, some great tackling by the back row of King, Aldous, and Binet, were held at bay, and Brentwood on their limited visits to Thurrock territory where awarded 2 further penalties slotted over by Henry Bird.
Final score 23 – 13 to Brentwood, all in all an excellent game, between well matched sides, the difference on the day being the superb kicking by Bird.
The win leaves Brentwood still top of the table with 33 points, 6 points ahead of their nearest rivals Amersham and Chiltern, a tremendous achievement. Or the more so, when one takes into account that most of the players in the side, were products of the clubs highly successful youth and mini set up, and all those who trained and coached the players over the last 15 years can all be very proud
The club is without a game next week, due to the Rugby World Cup final, but are back in action, on 7th November, when they travel to Chiswick to take on CS Rugby 1863, one of the oldest clubs in the country and one of the few clubs still in existence who were founding members of the Rugby Football Union

Chigwell Construction Man of The Match, veteran and former captain Tom King