Match Report
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| Date - 6th March 2004 |
Old Brentwoods 1st XV-v- Billericay 1st XV |
| Friendly |
| Old Brentwoods 24 Billericay 25 |
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| Old Brentwoods were beaten by a solitary point in the last minute of an exciting game at Ashwells Road last Saturday.
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| Although a “friendly”, the match against Billericay 1st XV, one division above the Old Boys in the Essex League, was keenly but, for the main part, fairly contested, with the lead changing hands at every score.
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| Both sides scored four tries in a display of fast-paced, flowing rugby, and the result was not decided until the final action of the match.
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| The visitors were first on the scoreboard with an unconverted try before they were overtaken by the Old Boys after a blistering break from winger Neil Hannaway, who outpaced his opposite number in a sprint to the line from deep in his own half. Fellow winger Paul Sier added the conversion from in front of the posts for a 7-5 lead.
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| A second try for Billericay swung the scoreline back their way, only for Old Brentwoods to draw level with a try from fullback James Faiers after good interplay by Reah, Shouksmith and Tentner in the backs. Sier’s conversion restored the home side’s 2-point lead and the whistle sounded for halftime.
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| The visitors edged ahead in the second period with a penalty, before centre Tentner scored a trademark try, using his pace to penetrate the Billericay back line. 19-15.
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| Another unconverted try for Billericay gave them a one-point lead, and with the Old Boys reduced to fourteen men after the sin-binning of hooker Demaray for a late tackle, things were not looking good for the home side. Showing great strength of character, however, they tackled fiercely up front and countered effectively to give themselves an attacking platform in opposition territory, from which they spread the ball quickly to Sier, who rounded the opposing winger to score in the corner.
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| The conversion attempt was missed, but with little time remaining Old Brentwoods looked likely to hold on for a memorable victory. It was not to be, however as Billericay drove the ball upfield and scored a last-gasp try in the corner to steal it.
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| Despite losing, the Old Boys can take a lot from this game: the forwards competed at the lineout and the scrum, Demaray winning several against the head before his premature departure, and this provided the foundation from which the backs could run at their opponents and exploit the gaps.
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| Billericay certainly played their part in what was an entertaining encounter, and Old Brentwoods’ ambition of promotion to a regular league fixture against them next season resumes next week at home to Bancroft, the Old Boys sitting in third place with three games of this season’s campaign remaining.
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| Meanwhile in Billericay, Old Brentwoods 2nd XV drew 19 – 19 with Billericay 2nd XV - currently two divisions higher than the Old Boys in the Essex Merit Table – to underline their aspirations of promotion as they sit three points clear at the top of their division.
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