With the Match Reporter picking a good one to miss last week (it was meant to be a break week!) as Brentwood slipped to their first defeat of the season at home to Harlow, this week saw Brentwood back at King George’s again looking to make amends against Thurrock. The pair had not met since the 2023/24 season when both teams had won their home fixtures (although the real anoraks amongst you will remember that Brentwood actually played their home game at Thurrock because of waterlogged pitches…) but, alongside two losses against Cheshunt and Wymondham, Thurrock had narrowly defeated Harlow on the opening day of the season to set up an interesting tussle.

Following another successful “Wear it Pink” Ladies Lunch, Brentwood kicked off down the slope and made a decent start in the opening ten minutes, going close on a couple of occasions only to be a bit guilty of overplaying and losing the ball at crucial moments when a little more patience would probably have seen points on the board.

As the fifteen-minute mark approached, consensus on the touchline was that with downhill advantage and the lion’s share of both territory and possession so far, Brentwood really could do with getting over the try line sharpish; thankfully two successive penalties gave them the opportunity to do just that. The first was a monster scrum effort which was tapped and lead to a second penalty which was popped into the corner five metres out, Andy Sutton accurate to James Killington at the front where the maul was powerful, crashing over, Sam Winney with the ball at the bottom of the pile of bodies, 5-0.

Five minutes later though the Match Reporter’s cheerful prosecco buzz wore off quite abruptly as Brentwood went from an attacking lineout 5 metres out to watching Thurrock’s conversion soar over their heads under their own posts…A truck and trailer maul error followed by too much gusto at scrum time saw Thurrock’s number 8 retrieve the ball on the backpedal before breaking straight through the middle and offloading, Thurrock finishing well using a final pass to evade Brentwood’s chase and going the length, 5-7 and the rain which wasn’t forecast started to pour…

Brentwood’s spirits were further dampened when next up Sam Winney saw yellow for reasons I am uncertain of but can only assume were clear-out related as Brentwood were on the attack at the time. However, with Thurrock’s penalty count significantly higher than Brentwood’s, Brentwood were not disadvantaged for long, Thurrock seeing yellow shortly afterwards…well, after James Killington had retrieved the yellow card from further up the pitch where it had fallen out of the referee’s pocket…

The downpour didn’t last long and with the sun now shining again, Brentwood seized the initiative back from the penalty kick to touch. The ball was straight off the top through the hands of Liam Power to George Cubitt who shipped it on to Niall Clifford, Luke Watson coming round on his shoulder for the pop pass and timing the offload to Tauren Henwood to give Brentwood a two on one, Tauren putting Alex Roberts away to run in at the corner for a well-executed try that almost looked like Brentwood may have practiced it,10 -7.

A third try followed directly from the restart, George Miles taking the catch and setting Eamon Tiernan up for a big crash into the middle of the pitch, Brentwood’s ball quick and shipped rapidly to Luke Watson who made yards down the left wing to take play into Thurrock’s half. Will McArthur carried on further, barrelling through to just shy of the 22 before Brentwood sent the ball right, Dan Suttle and George Miles mixing with George Cubitt, Niall Clifford and Henry Bird who set Alex Roberts off down the right wing where he was tackled short of the try line and did well to stay infield. Brentwood were quick to resource the ruck and the ball was spun back towards the posts, George Miles hefting it up and pulling the defence tight before it was whipped wide, Brentwood lining up on the left as George Cubitt and Tauren Henwood combined to put Luke Watson in at the corner for a lovely team try. Henry Bird added the extras, 17-7.

Brentwood appeared to have now found their groove and the bonus point try was scored just before half time after a charging Eamon Tiernan had steamed past Thurrock’s 10 metre line from the restart and Thurrock had been forced to put Liam Power’s attempted kick through into touch giving Brentwood an attacking lineout on the 22. Andy Sutton was accurate to James Killington again and the ball was off the top, Eamon Tiernan swerving into midfield and making metres before Brentwood feigned to go left from the ruck but actually went right, George Cubitt finding Tauren Henwood hitting the line at pace and scything straight through as a Jack Rocke in my earshot exclaimed “magnifique!” 22-7 and half time shortly after.

Brentwood’s start to the second half was interesting, having looked like they’d scored after a couple of minutes only to have the try disallowed for some afters…but that’s the fun of grassroots, it always finds new ways to surprise you! And it continued to do so, Brentwood conceding not long after when a bobbling kick had caused issues at the back and Brentwood were pinged for obstruction (I think…? I’m still not really sure…) when chasing the ball back, Thurrock tapping quickly and Brentwood not paying attention, 22-14.

A bit confused but not deterred, Brentwood hit back almost straight away after a Jake Bedding break and Louis Payne follow-up had seen them given held up over the tryline. The goal-line drop out went straight to Tauren Henwood who sliced straight through and took play back to within 5 metres, Alfie Adams taking it on the crash before it went wide, Henry Bird putting Luke Watson in the corner for his second of the afternoon and with Henry also adding the extras, 29-14.

Brentwood do like to dabble in a little jeopardy and Niall Clifford kindly supplied it a couple of minutes later with a yellow card, this one I am fairly certain was for a ruck clear-out…but Brentwood did not appear phased by being one short and scored number six only two minutes later after a lineout overthrow had landed in Jake Bedding’s hands and was away quickly for Eamon Tiernan to crash up the middle once more. Brentwood went through the phases, Dan Suttle, George Bassenger and Will McArthur making some big inroads to give Brentwood the go forward before a neat switch from George Cubitt to Tauren Henwood screaming into the line again saw him gas past four defenders to go over for his second, 34-14.

Next up was one that I bet no one had on their bingo cards…Eamon Tiernan had broken round the tail of the lineout and made good ground, the ball was recycled but the back line had got a bit disjointed so when the ball was flung at George Cubitt with no options, he took the only one available that wasn’t running straight into Thurrock’s defence, a rarely seen phenomena, a drop goal! Over it sailed as someone in my vicinity uttered “sorry, did he just drop a goal?!” 37-14 and an absolutely thrilled Match Reporter!

The following ten or so minutes elapsed with no further scores, although from a Brentwood perspective the game now felt reasonably comfortable, especially as they were still with the majority of possession and territory and did have a couple of half chances. Eventually Brentwood did add to their tally after several more Thurrock penalties had given them a lineout opportunity about eight metres out. Brentwood reverted to the maul, the secondary peel gaining momentum quickly and trundling over the line, James Killington this time emerging from the bottom with the ball, 42-14.

Thurrock were now really on the wrong side of the penalty count and another shortly after the restart saw Brentwood gain back territory again for another lineout put in. The maul this time started just outside the 22 and went absolutely steaming up the field, Louis Payne breaking from the back and cantering over from about ten out for try number eight, with Henry Bird’s conversion 49-14.

With now only about five minutes to go, Brentwood still had one more in the tank for their final flourish, this one coming after Thurrock had seen yellow for the volume of penalties conceded and George Cubitt had walloped an enormous kick into the corner from his own half. With Louis Payne hitting James Killington, Brentwood mauled again because if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, crashing over for another maul try, Will McArthur this time landing on the ball as a brief scuffle broke out (this one didn’t get disallowed mind…). There was just time for Henry Bird to add the final two points of the day, 56-14 and full time.

For Brentwood, this was a good way to put last week’s disappointment behind them with some lovely team tries and solid defence alongside some excellent individual contributions.

Next week Brentwood are on the road as they make the trip to Braintree. Braintree haven’t had the best start to the season with three losses in a row to Finchley, Wanstead and Bury IIs but recorded their first win against Woodford this weekend. Last season Brentwood won both fixtures but were really given the run around by Braintree’s attacking play and so will need to continue this week’s form if they want to notch up another win.