This week saw Brentwood make their final away trip of the league campaign to visit a very windy Wanstead. Going into the game, Brentwood already knew they would be finishing third as they were unable to be caught from below or catch the top two, Wanstead however, needed a win to guarantee fifth or their final position and potential play-off place would be dependent on other results.

Brentwood were playing into the gust for the first half and spent the opening minutes on the defensive until a Henry Bird rip in the tackle saw Brentwood nick the ball back in their own 22. With no one in the back field for Wanstead, Ewan May spotted the vast amount of space and absolutely leathered a kick into the wind which went deep into Wanstead’s 22, Wanstead’s kick back not finding touch and being run back by Henry Bird on a big crash just past halfway. From the ruck, Brentwood spotted half a chance on the blindside, Liam Power getting the ball to Andy Sutton who quickly shipped it on to Luke Watson; there wasn’t a lot of space but Luke didn’t need any more, leaving his would-be defender clutching at shadows before having the pace to zip past the cover and run round under the posts for Brentwood’s opener. Ewan May added the conversion, 0-7.

Shortly afterwards, Wanstead missed a shot at goal but then levelled the scores minutes later after a scrum free kick was taken quickly and Brentwood were outnumbered on the right, 7-7. Three minutes after that Wanstead took the lead when Brentwood lost their own scrum on their 22 and Brentwood’s defence appeared to be napping, Wanstead strolling in under the sticks and heavy sighs on the touchline from the Brentwood regulars, 14-7.

Seven minutes later, Brentwood pulled the scores back level once again after Eamon Tiernan had got over the ball on the floor, winning a penalty which allowed Brentwood a lineout just outside Wanstead’s 22. Andy Sutton was accurate to James Killington and the maul was set, moving forward rapidly into the 22 before Liam Power retrieved the ball and whipped it to Tauren Henwood who found Alex Roberts lingering just on the edge of midfield, rounding his man on the outside to slice straight through and over for the try. Henry Bird added the conversion, 14-14.

It took less than five minutes for Brentwood to pull back into the lead once again, this time from a lineout on halfway. With Wanstead not committing to the maul, Jack Mayes took the opportunity to power forward to the ten-metre line, offloading to James Killington who it took it on further and then to ground. Tauren Henwood and Jack Mayes again carried further infield before Liam Power had to regather some scrappy ball but took the opportunity to evade several tackles and create an overlap on the left, Will McArthur wearing a big shot from the pass but offloading from the floor to Henry Bird who stepped the defender and outpaced the cover to go in for the try which he ran round under the posts to make his own conversion easier, 14-21.

It was a lead Brentwood wouldn’t relinquish, the bonus point try arriving with five minutes of the half remaining. Having had to defend for another patch after a cheeky restart had caught everyone off guard, Luke Watson got over the ball to earn Brentwood a defensive penalty from which Henry Bird put the ball into touch just past Wanstead’s ten-metre line. It was quickly off the top of the lineout to Will McArthur who rampaged up-field through various tackles, eventually being pulled down in the 22 before a combination of Liam Power, Tauren Henwood and James Killington took it to within 5. George Bassenger and George Miles took it on twice more, Henry Bird collecting it on the crash to bundle over for his second of the afternoon which he also converted, 14-28.

With half time near, there was a final treat this season for the Match Reporter – a try before half time for the second week running! A penalty saw Brentwood find a good touch via the boot of Henry Bird just outside Wanstead’s 22 from which the lineout was again accurate, this time away swiftly for a Jack Mayes crash into midfield. Brentwood went left quickly, Tauren Henwood finding Luke Watson in a smidge of space with the miss-pass, and we can only assume it was the “football boots” which meant he could gas pass the defence for a try to make someone on the balcony feel very sheepish…14-33 and half time.

The second half started well for Brentwood, who prospered off what I can only describe as a bit of a calamity for Wanstead which saw them regather a loose Brentwood kick without a particularly hard chase and then whilst pondering kick/run/pass just leave the ball behind…Alex Roberts able to scoop it up and saunter in for one of the easier tries he’s scored this season…Henry Bird added the extras, 14-40.

To remind Brentwood that there was still plenty of time remaining in the game, Wanstead then pulled one back having moved the ball wide well off the back of a scrum, pulling Brentwood to the touchline before finding the inside man for the try 21-40.

Just as the Match Reporter wondered if her stress levels would be increasing imminently, Brentwood hit straight back; a knock-on a couple of phases after the restart giving Brentwood an attacking scrum. The scrum was solid enough, Liam Power getting it from the base and going right to Ewan May who stepped straight through Wanstead’s defence before getting a lovely offload to Alex Roberts who could canter in for his hattrick and pull himself back to joint top try scorer for the season, 21-45.

With it now somehow sunny, windy and also raining at the same time the game, like the weather, was becoming a little haphazard; defence appearing to be a bit optional and attacks disjointed from both teams. Brentwood though managed to restore a little bit more structure back to their game, Ewan May with a couple of smart kicks downfield mixed nicely with some direct carrying from both Jack Mayes and Jack Richards which eventually resulted in a Brentwood lineout just beyond Wanstead’s ten-metre. From the lineout a duo of Georges went again; George Miles barrelling through a couple of tackles in the tight before George Bassenger took the ball more centrally, carrying up to the 22. The ball was almost too quick, the pass which was flung back to Tauren Henwood not the most sympathetic but with one pirouette to take the ball and a slaloming run through a further three attempted tackles, he was under the sticks for a great individual effort. Ewan May knocked the conversion over, 21-52.

There were still 25 minutes or so left on the clock and, in spite of their considerable lead, Brentwood began haemorrhaging penalties, three in quick succession allowing Wanstead out of trouble in their own 22 and into causing trouble in Brentwood’s. Having elected to scrum, several phases and a line break later they were over for their bonus point, 28-52.

With Brentwood’s penalty count continuing to climb, next up George Bassenger found himself sent to the naughty step for ten minutes for the team’s misdemeanours (although given he’d literally just been warned, I reckon he also fancied a breather…) Brentwood however, responded positively and promptly scored try number nine; Ewan May starting it with an intercept in Brentwood’s 22 and showing great awareness to keep the ball alive for Luke Watson to take it on further, Wanstead then conceding a fairly cynical penalty to bring the move to a halt before being marched back another ten for some dissent. With Wanstead back peddling, Luke was awake to the opportunity, tapping and going, riding a tackle before getting the pass off to James Killington who tumbled over for the try. Ewan May landed a great touchline conversion in the conditions, 28-59.

Brentwood had mostly managed the sin bin period well but did concede right at the very end of it, a bit of over-eagerness in defence leaving Brentwood’s line with a big dog leg which Wanstead ran straight through needing one final pass to see them over the line, 35-59.

Brentwood still had try number ten in the tank though which they scored on the cusp of full time. Having gone long with the restart Brentwood defended smartly, boxing Wanstead into the bottom corner before Calvin Close bundled the man into touch to give Brentwood a lineout in the 22. Andy Sutton was accurate one final time to James Killington and Brentwood’s maul was set, motoring forwards until Liam Power whipped the ball out to Tauren Henwood, Tauren going through the line and getting his arm through the tackle for the cute offload to the onrushing Tom Fahy who scored by the post. Ewan May added the extra two, 35-66 and full time.

For Brentwood, a game where they probably weren’t quite at the levels of some other games this season but one where they still ran out comprehensive victors and pleasingly, a winning note for the always pessimistic Match Reporter to end on!

And there we have it, another league season done and dusted! This season has mostly been a joy to watch with very few Saturdays ruined and another third-place finish in a competitive league. There’s been some real highs; the first half away in a gale against Wymondham, champagne rugby against Holt at home, the slightly mental game away against Chelmsford, finally winning away at Harlow in a deluge to name a few. By my iffy stats, Brentwood have fielded 35 players in the first team this season but have enjoyed considerably more consistency in selection this year with 17 of those playing 15 or more games, Niall Clifford being one shy of ever present with 21 appearances from 22. Niall Clifford also continues a proud Brentwood tradition of centres being a bit rowdy, sharing the yellow card crown with Will McArthur on 3 apiece for the season. Brentwood have scored 891 points this season and 134 tries and with his hattrick against Wanstead, Alex Roberts caught up to Eamon Tiernan at the last for the pair to be joint top try scorers with 15 each, Henry Bird finishes as top points scorer on 180, 130 of which have been from the tee.

The play-offs now beckon, starting with Wymondham at home next week but, this is where the Match Reporter hangs up her pen having failed to plan accordingly for the potential extension to the season… for the six of you who read these week in week out and the touchline pundits who provide inspiration and quotes, thank you. And for the players who turn out every week and put their bodies on the line for our entertainment/despair, despite the heavy sarcasm and frequent stress I truly love watching this team play and would not choose to spend my Saturdays any other way, see you in September!