Brentwood U16s 14 Bishop Stortford U16s 27

Brentwood sunk in the mud…

One word could really sum up this game nicely, mud. It really was one of those days that if you stood still for longer than two minutes you’d begin to sink. As you can imagine the boys made a slow start, not surprising since on the mud bath that was the pitch it was probably like running in treacle!

Bishops Stortford however seemed blissfully unaware of said mud. Their kit was somehow still sparkly clean whereas the Brentwood boys all looked like something from the swamp, giving a good indication that Bishops Stortford were well in the ascendancy. Right on cue Bishops Stortford pulled out a lovely sweeping backs move, it looked almost effortless as they ripped through the defence and downfield to score the opening try in the corner. The conversion missed, 5-0 to Bishops Stortford.

Matt Smith was putting in some great hits in the middle of the park but otherwise Brentwood were still getting mullered. It got worse as Bishops Stortford chipped over the on rushing Brentwood defence, recollected the ball and were under the posts to score without a Brentwood player even laying a finger on them. The conversion was on target, 12-0 Bishops Stortford.

It seemed again Brentwood were being outplayed in the brains department (doesn’t bode well for GCSEs does it?) as Bishops Stortford were using the slope well knowing there was a good chance that Brentwood would knock on. This time a grubber through left Brentwood in disarray and a penalty was conceded from which Bishops Stortford scored again. The conversion missed, 17-0 Bishops Stortford.

The Brentwood supporters were just starting to get distracted by discussing the impending pipe blockage by trying to wash the boy’s kits when Brentwood suddenly sprung into life. Sam Fry, squelching as he went, was straight through the middle of Bishops Stortford and support was good causing Bishops Stortford to concede a penalty for killing the ball. The penalty was kicked to touch, the lineout won and the forwards agonisingly close to the try line. And then disaster, one hospital pass later and Bishops Stortford collected the ball and were away. No one was at home in defence due to all being stood in an attacking line and Bishops Stortford were over for their fourth try. The conversion hit the cross bar and missed, 22-0 Bishops Stortford.

At this point Rocky sauntered over with his first pint of the day and having been told that we were 22-0 down came perilously close to spilling it, disaster was however averted, as it was on the pitch with Nathan just managing to ground a loose ball for a 22 drop out before the Bishops Stortford player arrived.

At half time, 22-0 down, Ian’s hands were on his head and his hat was yanked off. Never a good sign.

The second half started off much better, as Adam was just put into touch by the try line after some good initial work by the forwards. Things got better yet when Bishops Stortford didn’t throw the ball straight at the lineout and Brentwood had a scrum only 5 metres from the try line. Although the forwards decided to completely ignore the move called by the half backs the ball was successfully retained after being taken off of the back of the scrum and Matt W slid over from the resultant ruck. Charlie was spot on with the conversion, 22-7 Bishops Stortford.

For most of the second half Brentwood managed to retain possession and continued to press but the Bishops Stortford defence held firm. Due to the conditions there were many scrums as a result of knock ons, some scrums taking so long to get right I was beginning to worry the mud might congeal the pack together…however from one such scrum Brentwood began a good series of pick and drives from the pack and made good ground down the field. Slowly but surely they ground towards the try line and despite making hard work of it by ignoring overlaps eventually the try was scored by a muddy person. Will appeared to surface from the heap on the try line with the ball but by this point the players were all starting to look the same…Charlie again converted well, 22-14 to Bishops Stortford.

Brentwood continued to try hard, a long distance penalty to get them within 7 just falling short but in the end it was Bishops Stortford to have the final say with a try in the dying minutes which was really the first time they’d even been in the Brentwood 22 in the second half. The conversion missed, full time was blown and the final score 27-14 to Bishops Stortford.

Lastly, no Billy bashing this week since his wimp gland flared up early on and he had to be subbed before he managed to do anything ridiculous on
the pitch…