With last week’s horror show still fresh in the mind of just about everyone, this week Brentwood were back on home turf and hoping not to give their supporters a Halloween scare as they welcomed Bury St Edmund’s Wolfhounds (also known as their second team - the first team compete in National 1) to a sunny, autumnal King George’s. Going into this weekend, Bury had lost 4 of their opening 5, their one win coming away at Braintree and it was difficult to call which way this one would go…

Resplendent in their purple charity kit in aid of Challenging MND, Brentwood had won the toss and were uphill for the first half, making a promising start after Bury put the kick off out on the full to immediately give Brentwood both territory and possession and penalty thereafter. It was a short-lived spell of optimism though; Brentwood’s lineout misfiring on the 22 and Bury punishing the error with aplomb, going the length on the counterattack for the game’s opening try, 0-5.

Although far from an ideal start, Brentwood’s confidence had not been knocked and they set about getting back up-field, a hard chase from the restart and a crucial tap tackle from Alfie Adams seeing Bury pinned in their 22 before a loose kick went straight to Tauren Henwood to run it back. Brentwood then had to show real patience, going through around 15 phases with notable carries from Dan Suttle and George Bassenger and a hefty Henry Bird handoff to make their way towards the tryline before Sam Winney finally broke Bury’s defence; twisting through a couple of tackles before tumbling towards the try line and reaching for the score, with Henry Bird’s conversion 7-5.

Less than five minutes later Brentwood added a second after a knock on in the tackle saw them with a scrum between halfway and Bury’s 10 metre line. The ball was out quickly to Kieran Ballinger who was sharp on his first outing of the season, ducking down the blindside before passing to Tom Walker who was at full tilt going down the wing, Tom grubbering ahead but the ball beating everyone into touch leaving Bury with a defensive 5 metre lineout. Bury won the lineout but in their haste to clear quickly didn’t spot Kieran Ballinger lurking at the tail, throwing a pass which he was able to pick off and dart over for the try, 12-5.

The lead however, lasted all of a minute in what was to become a topsy turvy half, Brentwood knocking on just inside their own half and turning the ball over. Bury were quick to react again, taking advantage of the quick turnover ball down the right flank once more before putting a chip over and winning the foot race to the bouncing ball, 12-12.

Ten or so further minutes elapsed mostly in the middle third of the pitch, Brentwood probably with more possession but Bury always lively on the counter before a penalty gave Bury a maul opportunity near the line but Brentwood defended well, forcing the knock on and clearing before Brentwood conceded another penalty which Bury opted to kick, 12-15.

Bury then extended their lead shortly afterwards with another swift counter after a long kick downfield had seen Brentwood not find touch with the kick back, Bury regathering and running straight back down the middle towards Brentwood’s disorganised line before finding support to the left and going over for the try, 12-22.

Brentwood though pulled a try back immediately after, George Bassenger hitting hard and low in the tackle from the restart for his backrow buddy Jack Mayes to nab the ball and bounce through a couple of tackles before offloading to Louis Payne who charged on further. Brentwood’s ruck ball was quick, Kieran Ballinger with the long pass off the floor to Ewan May on the wing to slide over in the corner for a try scoring return after injury, Henry Bird added the touchline conversion, 19-22.

It had been an action packed first half and there were still, somehow, just under ten minutes of it still to go in which the action was not over yet, Brentwood narrowly avoiding another concession after a line break had seen Tauren Henwood put in a try saving tackle at full back, Bury having to settle for three when Brentwood infringed in the next phase, 19-25.

It was Brentwood though who would have the final say of the half with…the try before half time! Brentwood had defended well after a scrum, a dominant hit from Dan Suttle allowing Jack Mayes to get over the ball again and the Brentwood break eventually winning a penalty. George Cubitt went for broke and got the ball right into the corner for Brentwood to have the 5-metre attacking lineout where Louis Payne found James Killington at the front. Brentwood set the maul, crabbing a little sideways at first before straightening up and pushing forwards, the strong forward effort allowing Sam Winney to flop over the line and with Henry Bird’s conversion, Brentwood took a slender 26-25 lead into half time.

With the slope now in their favour, touchline hopes were that if Brentwood could tighten up a bit in the face of Bury’s lively counterattack that they could come out on top in the second half and it started well, five minutes on the clock when Brentwood scored try number five. After Henry Bird had planted himself over the ball to win Brentwood a penalty, Brentwood’s lineout on Bury’s ten metre line was good, a strong maul making good ground before the ball was spread into midfield. Big dents were made through the middle by Niall Clifford, Alfie Adams and Tom Walker before a Tauren Henwood half break opened a small gap in Bury’s line, George Cubitt able to slide through it and escape the clutches of the cover and with another two from Henry Bird, 33-25.

Brentwood were now playing with confidence and when a long kick through presented a goal line drop out Brentwood ran it straight back via Tauren Henwood into the middle of the park. Brentwood recycled quickly, Jack Mayes with a signature pinball into contact to the left before the ball was out again, Kieran Ballinger going to the blindside and who needs backs when your forwards have the silky skills of Dan Suttle and Louis Payne executing two rapid passes to give Ewan May a little bit of space on the wing; Ewan hot-footing it through a couple of tackles to go over in the corner for a great finish. Henry Bird and a touchline conversion are an iconic duo, 40-25.

Even the perpetually stressed Match Reporter was starting to enjoy herself as Brentwood ran riot from the restart, Sam Winney setting off downfield with George Bassenger in support before Brentwood’s backs spread the ball left quickly, Ewan May tearing down the wing and into Bury’s 22. Brentwood couldn’t resource the ruck quickly enough to stop Bury nicking the ball but caused problems at the next ruck, Bury knocking on and Brentwood now with an attacking scrum. Brentwood’s scrum was solid and Sam Winney looked up and fancied it, exploding off the base and going between two defenders for his hattrick, Henry Bird with the extras, 47-25.

A chaotic period then kicked off, both teams turning the ball over multiple times in a frantic passage but eventually Brentwood managed to put their calm heads back on and an offside penalty allowed the ball to be punted downfield, landing just inside the 22 . Brentwood mauled again before Henry Bird went route one followed by George Bassenger to take play on further. The ball was fired to Niall Clifford who switched the ball back towards the left, Tauren Henwood with the jinking half break, Kieran Ballinger off the base of the ruck quickly to George Cubitt who skipped in at the corner, 52-25.

With less than quarter of an hour now to play, Brentwood were looking fairly comfortable and continued on the attack, their final try of the afternoon coming with about seven minutes left after a lineout on halfway had seen Jack Mayes slice through the middle and take Brentwood to the 22, Ewan May and Alfie Adams both getting close to the try line before Bury managed to burgle the ball into touch. Brentwood though now had another 5-metre lineout, Louis Payne hitting Sam Winney at the back; the maul disintegrated too quickly this time round, but Brentwood had protected the ball, it coming back down the left blindside where Tom Walker could flick it on to George Cubitt who stepped round the last defender to be the second Brentwood player of the day with a hattrick, 57-25.

The game was now comfortably won for Brentwood but also not over for Bury who continued to press, looking to score the try which would give them a bonus point to take away which they achieved in the dying moments after Brentwood had given away a couple of quick penalties, the final of which saw Bury tap and evade some Brentwood tackles to go over for the try, 57-32, full time and a significantly more cheerful Match Reporter this week!

For Brentwood this was a good win, an excellent way to bounce back after last week and probably the most reminiscent of some of the form they showed last season against a Bury team who looked dangerous given the opportunity and I’m sure will climb the table as the season progresses.

The league now takes a break for the week, much needed for Brentwood with various injuries and niggles, before resuming with Brentwood making their longest away trip of the season to Wymondham. Wymondham have played five and won four, their only loss coming against Finchley but do have a game in hand after their tie with Woodford was abandoned. Last season in the corresponding fixture Brentwood pulled out one of their best away performances of the season in gale force wind to win by 17 points and will be hoping to replicate the same form to get the win on the road.