After last week’s frustrating loss, Brentwood welcomed Shelford to King George’s a few weeks later than anticipated due to Storm Dennis related postponement. With the injured and “sorry it was meant to be a week off so I booked a holiday” list more numerous than the actual pool of players available, the named team saw some first team debuts, a backline of untested combinations with players slotting into unfamiliar positions to fill gaps and a couple of outraged players who’d had to train two whole times this week!

In spite of this, Brentwood started brightly. An early Shelford penalty conceded field position and Brentwood began a series of strong carries with Dan Libby and Toby Tierney prominently involved alongside captain for the day Charlie Wilkinson. After a sustained period of pressure in Shelford’s 22, Brentwood gained a penalty advantage and Shelford only just managed to win the foot race to a clever kick into the dead ball area from Sam Cappaert. Unfortunately, the attempted kick at goal missed and Brentwood were unlucky to come away with no points from their early endeavours.

It wasn’t long before Brentwood were on the attack again, Shelford having conceded another penalty to relinquish possession and territory once more. Another big carry up the blindside from Dan Libby, who put in another big shift following on from his efforts last week, pulled in several defenders before Charlie Wilkinson half burst through the middle, freeing his hands for the offload to Alex Wilson who was scragged about 5 metres shy of the try line having looked to be through. Regrettably, as has often been their Achilles heel this season, Brentwood were again unable to convert territory and pressure into points and came away empty handed once more.
Having absorbed nearly 15 minutes of Brentwood pressure, Shelford got themselves into the Brentwood half for the first time after an unforced Brentwood knock on had given them an easy out and was followed up with a clever kick down the hill into the corner which Brentwood were forced to carry over their own try line.

It was now Brentwood’s turn to defend and they did so manfully, strong tackles from Luke Dennis, who tackled belligerently throughout, Jack Richards and Jake Harcourt repelling Shelford in the middle of the field before a key tackle from Ben Masdin out wide stopped a half break. Brentwood’s defensive effort was strong and pushed Shelford back to just outside the 22 but eventually the penalty was conceded as Brentwood tried to win the ball back in the ruck and Shelford took the points on offer, 0-3.

It was not long after that Shelford added another 3 to their tally, Brentwood having been caught isolated trying to make their way up the hill to take a 0-6 lead, but Brentwood plugged on from the restart and soon an excellent Sam Cappaert touch finder from a penalty gave them a 5 metre lineout. The maul was set and looked threatening, but Shelford did enough to hold it up and earn the put in to the scrum, however a big Brentwood drive and follow up strong tackle from Jack Wells put Shelford on the back foot. Colby Dobson ran back the loose clearing kick and Shelford conceded the penalty allowing Sam Cappaert to pull back 3 for Brentwood, only for Brentwood to give away a penalty almost immediately from the restart which Shelford’s goal kicker again made no mistake with, 3-9 and half time.

Having pulled together and performed well for the first half, Brentwood were dealt a blow when they conceded a crucial try not long after half time. A knock on in midfield had given Shelford the scrum put in in their own half which they won despite the strong surge from Brentwood’s pack and Rob Port snagging the 8 at the base. The ball was whipped wide quickly and although the tackle was made, the Shelford player was able to free his hands to get the offload away and put Shelford on the front foot, a grasping cover tackle from Charlie Wilkinson just doing enough to disrupt the attack. Brentwood again tackled strongly, pushing Shelford back once more, but an offside penalty eventually went against them allowing Shelford to kick for touch. The maul from Brentwood’s 22 was powerful and only some last ditch scrabbling defence managed to stop it trundling over the line but, with Brentwood’s defence having been sucked in, Shelford spotted they had numbers out wide which they exploited to go over in the corner. The conversion missed, 3-14 to Shelford.

The game was put out of Brentwood’s reach not much later when another penalty in midfield gave way to a good touch finder from Shelford. Brentwood once again just about stopped the maul, but the pile of bodies left them lacking a guard on the blindside allowing Shelford to pick and go over for their second try of the game. The missed conversion left the score at 3-19 to Shelford and Brentwood with a lot to do.

Brentwood didn’t give up the fight, Tijde Visser carrying hard as ever (once his finger had been returned to its correct position…) and Charlie Wilkinson and Jake Harcourt providing strong options in the centres, well supported throughout by the hard working engine room of Dan Libby and Luke Dennis. Brentwood continued to put themselves in good attacking positions but, as has sadly been Brentwood’s post-Christmas luck this season, a few were squandered when Jack Richards was forced to leave the pitch with another injury and unfortunately took the lineout accuracy with him, Brentwood giving up possession at key times having worked hard to get back on the front foot.
Brentwood’s final opportunity came when a lively break from Ben Masdin forced Shelford into a penalty for killing the ball, allowing Brentwood to get into the corner. This time the lineout was spot on and Brentwood nearly rumbled over from a maul of their own, only for it to disintegrate just before the line. The backs were then deployed a couple of metres from the line before the move broke down when fly half Sam Cappaert was on the receiving end of a late shoulder charge which somehow only warranted a penalty. Brentwood opted for the scrum, but an awry pass forced Brentwood back to the 22 before a large scuffle kicked off and both Sam Cappaert and his earlier assailant were sent to the bin for the final 5 minutes. Brentwood continued to press and spent the remaining time in Shelford’s half but to Shelford’s credit their defence held firm and disappointingly Brentwood finished with no further score for all of their efforts.

It was another frustrating day for Brentwood where the score line did not reflect how closely the game had been contested for large parts, Shelford having two clear cut opportunities which they took whilst Brentwood could just not get the points on the board at key moments. Brentwood, however, can take heart from this game having approached it with an excellent team spirit and attitude and with several non-regular first team players making a point for their continued inclusion.

There is now a week break in the league before Brentwood face another tough challenge away at second placed Colchester. Brentwood beat Colchester 20-13 earlier in the season and there is no doubt that Colchester will be out to avenge that defeat with the opportunity of a play-off spot still firmly in their grasp. For Brentwood, the race for the play-offs is over but if they display a similar team spirit to this week there is no reason they cannot finish the season strongly.