A win's a win!

Old Priorians 16 Brentwood 26

Brentwood made the trip to Ealing last Saturday to play Old Priorians, in a London Division 1 fixture. This has never been a happy hunting ground for the club, having been thumped 34 – 6 on their first ever visit 2 seasons ago, and last season earning a fortuitous victory in the closing minutes by 35 -26.
So it was no real surprise when last Saturday’s game was another nail biter, with the away side earning a victory by 26 -16, in what was a very close game, which the old boys were very unlucky not to win. Brentwood never really got into their stride, looked nothing like a side with aspirations of promotion, and put in a collective below par performance. Maybe it was the cold conditions, or the lack of atmosphere, the game was played in front of a very small crowd, where the away support probably outnumbered the home people, but all in all a fairly lacklustre display.
Brentwood kicked of playing up the slope, and built some decent attacks but time after time, the final pass was fumbled and although they threatened on occasions never crossed the Old Priorians line. Half time arrived with Brentwood trailing by 11- 9. The old boys had gained in confidence as the half progressed and had begun to build some good attacks and it was no surprise when they scored the only try of the first half complimented by two penalties, all Brentwood could offer in return where 3 penalties from the boot of Charlie Chambers
After a dressing down from the coaching staff it was a different story after the change round as Brentwood built some decent attacks and scored two early tries when Josh Woodcock waltzed through the covering defence, and Declan Gillet also crossed the old boys line, unfortunately neither were converted, but Brentwood were ahead by 19 – 11, and looked as if they were going to take control of the game. Unfortunately this was not the case, Old Priorians began to dominate the scrums, and territorially began to command the game, and it was only some excellent defending by the Brentwood side that kept the home side at bay.
With 3 minutes to go, Old Priorians finally got their just deserts when they crashed over the Brentwood line and scored a try taking the score to 19 – 16, fortunately for Brentwood the comparatively simple conversion was missed, but the away side were on the ropes and the game was there for taking. With the seconds ticking by Old Priorians launched a last gasp attacking but as they moved the ball down the back line Josh Stannard intercepted a pass raced unopposed under the home side posts, giving Chambers the simplest of conversions, and the game ended with Brentwood victorious
As usual it was good to see James Metcalfe, former colt of the year, albeit in 1996, come on for a brief cameo appearance and make some decent tackles
All in all not Brentwood’s finest 80 minutes of the season, but a win is a win, and this result leaves Brentwood 2nd in the table. A big improvement is needed for next week’s home game when Eton Manor are entertained at King Georges kick off 2 pm.

John Smeaton / BRFC