Match Report
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| Date - 13th September 2003 |
Bancroft -v- Old Brentwoods 1st XV |
| Essex Division 2 |
| Bancroft 13 Old Brentwoods 32 |
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| Old Brentwoods got their league campaign underway with a well-deserved win over Bancrofts, who are one of the favourites to win Essex 2. The visitors started strongly, quickly getting into their stride from the kick-off to work their way up field to the Bancrofts 22, eventually forcing their opponents to stray offside just outside their 22. Liam Dunseath stepped up to score the first 3 points of the season. |
| Bancrofts responded with the tenacity expected of them, but through a solid defence led by Shouksmith and Reah, Old Brentwoods were able to resisit the onslaught. Respite finally came from a Bancrofts infringement at the breakdown, allowing Neil Hannaway to lead one of his customary charges from a quick tap penalty. He was well supported by Womersley and Buchanan who both gained good ground to reach the Bancrofts 22, the ball was spun first left and then right to eventually stretch the defence with quick hands from Shouksmith and Hughes sending Dunseath over near the corner. Dunseath converted, extending the lead to 10-0. Bancrofts hit back immediately though, taking advantage of an Old Brentwoods infringement in their own 22 to succeed with a penalty. |
| The score remained at 10-3 until the half-hour. Good lineout work by Croom and the speed and strength of Holmes, Williams and Demaray helped secure regular possession for Old Brentwoods. This allowed them to move upfield through swift handling between forwards and backs, with Reah and Tentner both making powerful inroads. Eventually the defence became stretched enough to allow Reah to float a long pass out to Mullen whose exceptional handling put Hall over in the corner for a great team try. Dunseath converted for 17-3. |
| The visitors had their tails up and were soon back on the attack. With only a few minutes of the half remaining, good interchange between forwards and backs again led to disarray in the defence. Hughes set off on a jinking run 20 yards out to score a wonderful individual try to send Old Brentwoods into half time 22-3 up. |
| Bancrofts narrowly missed out on promotion last season and showed that they mean business again this year straight after half time. Strong running from their pack led them upfield, eventually resulting in an Old Brentwoods lineout 10 metres out. A combination of Bancrofts disruption and untidiness in the Old Brentwoods ranks led to the home flanker diving over to pull back to 22-8. Within 10 minutes of the restart Bancrofts clawed their way back to 22-13 courtesy of a well-controlled rolling maul from a lineout 10 yards out. Old Brentwoods needed to dig-in and regain control of the match. |
| This they did, with strong running by substitutes Baur and Raymond helping to keep Bancrofts on the backfoot and in their own half. Another Bancrofts infringement in their 22 allowed Hughes to extend the lead with a well-struck penalty. The next 20 minutes of the match saw some good attacking rugby from both teams, but two well-organised defences did well to hold out. |
| The final score of the match came with 5 minutes remaining. After some good driving work by the forwards they were eventually rewarded for all of their hard work on a sweltering day in the shape of a try for Buchanan, who forced his way over the line from a ruck a few yards out. Hughes converted to leave the final score Bancrofts 13 Old Brentwoods 32. |
| Old Brentwoods fully deserved their win against their committed and well-organised hosts. Strong running from the backs combined with quality support from the pack was the key to this victory. Notable performances were put in by Croom in the lineout and Reah and Dunseath in attack, whilst Holmes was seemingly everywhere, but man of the match was Alex Hughes, who had a hand in two tries and scored a third. |
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