Old Brentwoods hosted local rivals Billericay for their final game of the season, with the added incentive of the NS10 inaugural cup up for grabs. With the Visitor’s having game in hand and equal position in the league, the Woodies knew nothing but their best would be required to defeat the only team that had significantly beaten them all year.

With wet and muddy conditions underfoot the stage was set for Old Brentwoods to kick off, with the Home side coming out fast. However a botched kick for touch and set piece breakdown let Billericay off the hook and gifted the Visitor’s with a better field position. Missing several exit opportunities the Woodies became locked in their own third, undergoing a barrage of carries from the Bees heavy pack but holding strong in a well drilled defensive effort. Seeing no joy breaking through on the ground, Billericay took to the air with a smart cross field which was barely touched down behind the line by returning Fullback Elliot Vickers with the Billericay winger inches from claiming an early try.

Any welcome relief from the goal line drop out was snuffed from a glanced hand of a marking defender and again Woodies found themselves under pressure within their own 22. Carry after carry they brought down their opponents giving little ground until the blast of the whistle signalled a yellow card for Flyhalf Tim Mason’s roadblock challenge on a charging centre despite he’s small stature –his lack of form rewarding him Dick of the Day. Beneath the posts and unable to find a way across the final 10m, Billericay took the valuable points on offer after almost a full quarter on the attack. [0-3]

Seeing backs turned and a gap open, a quick kick off was unfortunately squandered from a less than optimum bounce on the muddy centre spot again allowing Billericay to go on the offensive with only some aggressive counter rucking from Nick Clarke giving Woodies a brief reprieve and their first viable possession on the halfway.

Both teams continued to battle for territory with mixed results given the conditions and scattered kick chase. Once such exchange caught the Home side napping, with only the last offload being given as forward saving the Woodies from an overloaded blindside attack unleashing the Billericay prop to crash down in the corner. After another testing defensive set, the Old Boys were finally able to escape their half with a string of penalties and were returned to full strength with the return of Tim Mason – successfully holding the Bees scoreless in what seemed like a lifetime of attacking pressure.

Now with ball in hand, the Woodies started to string some phases together, taking a quick lineout and chipping into the dead ball zone for a goal line drop out. Resolute they immediately went on the hunt for points from the restart, shifting the ball to Winger James Sullivan who dragged tacklers close to the line, before rewinding the direction of attack and whipping the ball out twice for Captain Stu Smyth to contort over the line for a ruthless score beneath the posts – the flexibility of the score and all round superb game earning him the Man of the Match accolade [7-3 HT].

With the scoresheet not representing the battlelines from the game, Old Brentwoods knew a long 40 minutes were left in their 2023/24 season and they’d need to maintain their grit and composure to see the day out. This was instantly reinforced by an explorative attack from Billericay’s own half, releasing their winger to chip down the line for another Woodies touch back followed by a try being held up over the line. Frustrations began to bubble in the Visiting team, rightfully so given the scoreline being unreflective of the game, and an over-zealous tackle off the ball saw their hooker be sent to the Bin to cool off.

Sensing a numeric opportunity, Woodies uncharacteristically played from their own 22 identifying a narrow defense and unleashing Stu Smyth on a rampaging run on the overlap. Two rising high challenges forced the ref to stop play, with the Home supporters baying for another Visitor to be sent to the bin. Spurred on Old Brentwoods continued to drive down the pitch with the added pack weight providing an attacking platform and giving backs a clean ball, their efforts finally being awarded with an appetising penalty infront of the sticks which was gratefully taken. [10-3]

Feeling the momentum in their favour Old Brentwoods pressed forward on the restart forcing handling errors from their opponents and using the scrum to launch a Backs move from one side of the pitch to the other only for another unpunished high tackle to bring down winger Julien Funes 10m out from the white-wash. Keen to inflict on Billericay’s transgressions the Forwards perfectly executed a long marching maul over the line – scrum half George Barrett poaching the unconverted try from the deserving pack. [15-3]

With the scoreboard leaning their way Woodies looked to exert management over the game with controlled play. They were close to capitalising on their opponent’s errors when a loose pass in Old Brentwood’s 3rd was pounced on by Julien Funes who executed a 2 on 1 for Tim Mason to scramble down the pitch only for the last defender’s seat belt tackle to deny the try, this occasion deservedly drawing the yellow from the ref. With another attacking lineout and a man advantage, Billericay cleverly didn’t contest the predictable maul and evaded what could’ve been a carbon copy try from the last. With their maul nullified Woodies turned to the Backs the chance to demonstrate a choreographed move through the middle. The gain line broken, a play reversal found the space out wide but the last pass wasn’t given relinquishing another opportunity and potentially the final nail in the coffin.

Following a passage of play with both teams suffering from slippery ball conditions, it was the Bees that had the next genuine scoring chance, playing a blindside move off a scrum to be tackled out of touch close to the line. Similar to the first half Billericay battered the Woodies defensive line phase after phase but again couldn’t find a way through, reverting to tap penalties and simplistic pick and go’s around the rucks to inch ever closer to the line. Despite once again being held up over the line, James Sullivan was sent to the bin for a ruck infringement and the Bees eventually managed to power under the posts for a score bringing the game to one score. [15-10]

The fatigue from the defensive effort had begun to creep into the Home side, and Billericay knew it. With moments left to play they went on a final bruising campaign up the pitch hoping to muscle their way to victory. With broken bodies littering the field, consecutive penalties and the chewed up ground making it difficult to defend from close it was only a matter of time before Billericay again were able to pick and go and burst over the line. Not for the first time this season, Old Brentwood’s lined up for a 15 man conversion charge down – the kick either drawing or losing them the game. Together they set off the line and watched as the ball sailed wide of the uprights. [15-15 FT]

An epic battle to finish the season and a fitting result for the NS10 cup to celebrate the camaraderie of the sport and the special relationship between these two clubs. Old Brentwoods can now only watch as Billericay host Basildon for the league title but can hold their heads up high for an all round successful and well enjoyed season. Onwards and upwards to the Cup fixtures!

Author: Goerge Barrett