On a warm spring afternoon Brentwood travelled the short distance to Chelmsford for a London North league fixture. Not only were local bragging rights at stake, but Chelmsford were desperate for a win as they battle against relegation. For Brentwood the pressure was off, promotion remains a mathematical possibility but it will take some extraordinary slip ups by the two clubs above them in the league table, Amersham and Chiltern RFC, and Tring for this to happen.

The good sized crowd, witnessed an interesting game of rugby, sometimes bizarre, as between them, the two teams served up a 14 try festival. Some good attacks were put together by both sides, but at times tackling did appear to be optional rather than a fundamental part of the game of rugby!!

The away side won the toss, and elected to play down the slope and into the slight wind. Territorially Brentwood controlled the early phases of the game and after 15 minutes were leading by 12 -0, having scored two tries one of which was converted by Henry Bird. The first by Aaron Stanier, who raced away to score after an excellent break by Josh Stannard. The second scored by the veteran Tom King who dived over in the corner after a good drive by the Brentwood forwards.

Chelmsford reduced the arrears, on their first visit to the Brentwood half, as they scored a penalty following Brentwood being caught offside. The remainder of the half was dominated by Brentwood who ran in 3 further tries, scored by captain Josh Woodcock, Henry Bird and Declan Gillett, all of which were converted by Henry Bird. Whilst the home side, starved of possession did score a further penalty and a converted try making the half time score to 33 – 13 in Brentwood’s favour.

The second half started with Brentwood still on the attack, despite the disadvantage of playing up the slope, Aaron Stainer again raced away to score in the corner, after slick passing by the Brentwood backline, yet again the majestic Henry Bird added the conversion putting Brentwood in the lead by 40 points to 13. From the kick off Chelmsford scored a try, as the Brentwood defence switched off, leading to head coach Killington ringing the changes, bringing on James Metcalfe, Joel Bevans–Royston, and the young colt Jamie Tavui for a rare first team appearance.
At this stage Brentwood were reduced to 14 men when scrum half Tom Simpson was harshly yellow carded, but even though a man down Brentwood managed to score a further try when good passing between forwards and backs lead to Ed Greenfield diving in at the corner, as usual converted by Henry Bird, putting Brentwood in a commanding lead 47 – 18.

In the last 20 minutes both sides put together some good attacks and each sided scored a further 3 tries, Brentwood’s by Henry Bird, Nick Binet and James Metcalfe, all converted by Henry Bird taking the final score to 68 - 39.

This result saw Brentwood happy to take the 5 points as they consolidated their 3rd place in the league table, and Chelmsford pleased with their try scoring bonus point, as they continue their relegation dog fight

Brentwood’s Chigwell Construction man of the match Henry Bird