Following a disappointing loss at home to Westcliff (a brief synopsis because my real job kept me too busy to write a comprehensive report…Brentwood not clinical enough in spite of opportunities, Westcliff very clinical and took points well which is why they are top of the league, two significant and season ending injuries for James Killington and James Vogel acquired which really took the wind out of Brentwood’s sails towards the end of the game and saw Brentwood lose 21-31), this week Brentwood made one of the lengthier away journeys of the season to Stowmarket.

On paper, with Stowmarket winless so far this season, this should be a fixture with Brentwood as favourites however, Brentwood have struggled here in the last couple of seasons with a draw and narrow win and could certainly not afford to be complacent.

Brentwood were out of the blocks quickly and, having made good progress up the field, only didn’t score in the opening two minutes because Si Whaley hadn’t checked that Matt had done his shoelaces up properly prior kick off…Fortunately Matt’s fellow forwards atoned for the unopposed tumble from the subsequent scrum, earning a penalty which from which Ewan May took a quick tap to dive over for the opening try which he also converted, 0-7.

The rapid start didn’t last though and ten minutes later Stowmarket levelled the scores after some astute kicking had kept Brentwood pinned in their own 22 for too long, Stowmarket eventually bundling over from short-range, 7-7.

Brentwood then fired straight back, Ewan May’s restart kick on the money which allowed a combination of Alex Roberts and Louis Payne to bundle Stowmarket’s catcher into touch for a Brentwood lineout. The lineout was accurate, and Louis Payne made further good ground wrapping round at the tail before James Stevens followed up with a strong carry. Tom Walker found Jack Richards in some space out wide, taking Brentwood to within 5 and although Ewan May was bundled into touch in the next phase, Brentwood won the ball back at the lineout; Alfie Adams batting it back for George Bassenger to tidy up and Brentwood went again. James Stevens had another big crash before Alfie Adams had a little dart, Kieran Ballinger then finding Jack Mayes on the blindside who had the pace to round the defence and score. 7-14 with Ewan’s conversion.

Six further minutes elapsed before Brentwood scored their third which was started by a break up field from Alex Roberts having collected a Stowmarket kick. Brentwood were looking fluid going forwards, a good variety of hard carries from the forwards and some deft play from the backs swiftly taking them into Stowmarket’s 22, before Jack Mayes made a half break through the middle which pulled Stowmarket’s defence narrow. Brentwood were quick to spot the space on the left, Ewan May getting the ball through the hands to Louis Payne and on to Tom Walker who cut back inside and had the power to break a couple of tackle attempts and emerge through a bundle of bodies to dive over the try line, 7-19.

Ten scoreless minutes passed in which Jack Richards was shown a yellow when the referee deemed a small nudge had prevented Stowmarket getting hold of a loose Brentwood pass but being a man down didn’t dent Brentwood’s flow, the bonus point being scored during the same period. Two consecutive penalties, one from a Jack Mayes turnover and the next from a Stowmarket ruck infringement gave Brentwood a lineout about 7 metres out, Louis Payne finding George Bassenger to set the maul before himself breaking off the back to clatter over the last defender for the try, 7-24.

Of course, as is tradition, there was still somehow time for Brentwood to concede a try just before half time in what, even in my jet-lagged state, seemed quite a lengthy half…Stowmarket intercepting a pass on the halfway line and finishing the opportunity well, 14-24 at half time.
The start of the second half saw Stowmarket reduce the deficit to 17-24 almost immediately with a 3-pointer from a Brentwood transgression and suddenly, despite Brentwood having seemingly been in control for most of the first half, there was only a score in it and the stress levels on the touchline started to creep up once again…

Fortunately, Brentwood though were quick to respond, Ewan May and Luke Watson holding up a Stowmarket attacker in the tackle before Alex Roberts arrived to rip the ball; Kieran Ballinger getting it off the floor from the ruck quickly to Louis Payne who found a soft shoulder and broke through the middle, eventually being tackled deep in Stowmarket’s 22. The ball went right quickly, Tom Walker jinking close before Keiran went back inside to Jack Mayes who went closer still, the ball then recycled to a charging Louis Payne who took a great line through two defenders to go under the posts. Ewan added the extras, 17-31.

Brentwood acquired another yellow for Cameron Babby after the concession of a few too many penalties but again carried on unperturbed, scoring their sixth try with 5 minutes of the bin elapsed after another cohesive passage of play had taken them from 22 to 22 and culminated in a penalty in their favour. The ball went into the corner, Andy Sutton’s reliable darts finding Matt Whaley and another maul being set. The maul trundled forwards before the ball was removed, another mini maul being formed before the ball shot out towards the blindside wing, Alex Roberts recovering it well and also offloading to Jack Richards who squeezed over in the corner. Ewan knocked the touchline conversion over, 17-38.
With 20 minutes still to play, there was still plenty of game left and with Brentwood in the ascendency, Stowmarket were next to be shown a yellow card before Brentwood extended their lead further. A Brentwood lineout just outside the Stowmarket 22 was accurate again and straight off the top and swiftly to Jack Richards on the midfield crash ball. And then my notes for this one just say “Ewan says adios…” which is a fairly accurate representation of how Ewan glided straight through a dog leg in Stowmarket’s defence, stuck the burners on to go past the cover and then rounded the last man to go in at the corner, 17-43.

Four minutes later Brentwood hit the 50 mark, Declan Gillette going on a lovely, mazy run having gathered a loose Stowmarket clearance kick on halfway, avoiding various tackles before trying to find Luke Watson on the inside. The pass hit the floor, but Luke had the footballing dexterity to tap it on with the boot before it bounced up perfectly into his hands to score the try by the posts, magic, 17-50 with Ewan’s conversion.

With under ten to go, even the most cynical of Brentwood supporters (me) could concede that this one was probably now over as a contest, but Stowmarket had shown some good attacking endeavour during the game and continued to do so, scoring shortly after from a well-timed crossfield kick taking the score to 24-50.

Brentwood then added their ninth of the day when Brentwood’s forward pack put in one last big effort and won the ball against the head from a scrum in Stowmarket’s 22. The ball was recycled through 3 phases before being shipped to Ewan May who pinned his ears back and went straight through Stowmarket’s defence untouched and under the posts for his hattrick which he also converted 24-57.

It was, however, Stowmarket, who were to have the last say in this high scoring affair, nabbing their own try bonus point with time nearly up after breaking from halfway and playing with quick ball that kept Brentwood back-peddling all the way to the try line, 29-57 and full time soon after.

For Brentwood this was a good away win in a fixture they have often struggled in although they will be mindful that whilst they played some really cohesive attacking rugby, it was also somewhat disjointed in patches. Both attack and defence will need to be at 100% for this week’s return to King George’s to face Harlow who currently sit in third, 4 points above Brentwood in 4th. Brentwood lost 31-20 in the away fixture earlier in the season in a game where they never really got going and will be keen to put on a better display in front of their home crowd.