Brentwood U17s 17 Westcliff 0

Brentwood prosper in the precipitation…

To be honest this one is going to be short and sweet since deciphering the sodden mess that was my notes has been rather challenging. We thought that following getting drowned at Westcliff last year was probably as bad as the weather had ever been on a Sunday but this one went up a notch with a delightful arctic breeze too. The spectators may have been deterred but the boys certainly weren’t. And in fairness to the spectators, with the odd exception (Fran), everyone braved the elements…

From the off the boys never looked like losing this one. That isn’t meant to be insulting to Westcliff who as ever made a tough opposition but Brentwood had that air of grit and determination about them. And they also discovered they could play rugby in the rain! Right from the off the forwards were pumped up and piling (legally of course) into the rucks and mauls and from one such ruck the ball was turned over and quickly out to the backs. A combination of Mikey, Charlie and Jake put Sam Fry in for the opening try and a great start. Given the conditions kicking was always going to be nigh on impossible so it was no surprise the conversion missed 5-0 Brentwood.

And this is where it all gets a bit illegible I’m afraid. I can make out a ‘great run Sam Fry’ which I believe set up good field position for Brentwood and eventually they got over the line only for the try to be held up. From the resulting scrum though Chris D picked up and with some help from his fellow forwards barrelled over for Brentwood’s second. The conversion missed, 10-0 Brentwood.

Brentwood’s 3^rd and final try from Carl came as the backs were starting to get hypothermia. The spectators were dripping and poor Nick had been holding an umbrella over me for so long that his arm had gone dead. The umbrella holding was however very much appreciated!