Following the extended Christmas and New Year break, Brentwood finally returned to league action, last Saturday, when they made the trip to old adversaries Letchworth. A club, not having the best of seasons, and looking for a victory to move away from the relegation zone, whilst Brentwood needed the win, to continue putting pressure on the league leaders Amersham and Chiltern.

Letchworth kicked off playing up the slope and into the wind, on a heavy and wet pitch, not at all conducive to running rugby, and spent the first 10 minutes of the game putting the away side under immense pressure, only excellent tackling from all the Brentwood players prevented Letchworth from scoring a try, and all Letchworth had to show from their early dominance was a penalty, following a Brentwood player being caught offside.

Shortly after this Brentwood prop Payne, had to leave the field of play to be replaced by Pratley, and Brentwood yet again found themselves defending with little opportunity to go on the attack. However a knock on by one of the Letchworth centres was bounced on by Stannard who kicked ahead, and beat the covering defence to the ball and touched down to give Brentwood, a try against the run of play, and on their first visit to their opponents 22, unfortunately Bird missed the conversion but Brentwood now had a slender lead, score 3 -5.

Letchworth spent the rest of the half camped in Brentwood territory, having the advantage at scrum time, but were unable to score a try, and all they had to show for their endeavours was a further penalty. Half time arrived with Letchworth holding a lead 6 - 5.

Coach Killington’s half time pep talk, must have been truly inspirational, because, despite playing up the slope, it was Brentwood who went on the attack from the whistle in the 2nd half, having had to replace the unwell Aldous, with Binet, who has been out injured for the past two months.
A good drive by all the forwards led to Brentwood scoring their second try of the match, a debate rages as to who got the final touch down, but both Pratley, and the veteran King claim the try. Bird converted taking the score to 6 -12 in Brentwood’s favour.

Letchworth came back into the game, seemed to have the advantage at scrum time while Brentwood dominated the line outs with both Hobbs and Woodcock having excellent games. However some poor tacking by the otherwise reliable Brentwood centres let through the Letchworth centre, and he raced away to score taking the score to 11 -12.

Bird scored a further penalty for Brentwood taking the score to 11 -15, but it was Letchworth who ended the game stronger, they scored an excellent long range penalty and the game ended with them on the attack. Final score 14 -15.

Overall another good win for Brentwood, although Letchworth will consider themselves very unlucky, it was also good to see the veteran scrum half Harris getting some match time as he replaced Galligan late in the game.This win keeps Brentwood in 2nd place, and next week at King Georges they take on Barking.

The Chigwell Construction man of the match was awarded to Rob Hobbs