Match Report
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| Date - 13th December 2003 |
Old Brentwoods 2nd XV -v- Maldon 3rd XV |
| Merit Table |
| Old Brentwoods II 30 Maldon III 10 |
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| The Old Boys produced one of their best performances of the season to overcome Maldon in this merit table fixture. Not always known for their good starts, the home team quickly got into the game and a powerful run from Paul Buchanan brought the first score after five minutes, the winger taking three of the opposition over the line with him before touching down for the first try. Perry Reeves missed with the resulting conversion attempt but was successful moments later after Pat Stroud went over for a rare try from a quickly-taken penalty. A successful penalty soon afterwards gave the Old Boys a 15-0 lead after fifteen minutes and their visitors had little to show for their efforts. This was soon rectified when a lapse of concentration in midfield by Brentwood gave the Maldon number eight space to run. Support was at hand and the resulting try got the visitors back into the game and served as a warning to the Old Boys against complacency. The score remained 15-10 at half-time.
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| The second half saw both sides raising their games to push for the all-important early score. The Old Boys pack worked tirelessly around the park with Mike Haddock, James Bailey and flanker Scott Inglis amongst others creating opportunities for the backs to exploit the weaknesses in the opposition's defence. As the weather began to deteriorate Brentwood moved up a gear and got the vital breakthrough from Alex Hughes, the scrum half going over for a try ten minutes into the half. Hughes continued to be the thorn in the Maldon side with numerous darting runs from quickly-taken penalties baffling the opposition defense. It was he that scored the next try two minutes from the end after being on hand to support Ian Hannaway on the right wing. Both of these tries remained unconverted and looked likely to be the final points of the game. However a final move from the Old Boys saw Hughes burst free of the Maldon defences once again, only to be held up inches from the try line. The scrum half could have gone over himself but unselfishly passed the ball out to Dave Knapp who powered past the Maldon line for a final try, his first for the Club in 15 years. It was a fitting way to end a fine performance, the 30-10 victory reinforcing the side's good position in the division.
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