Birth Certificates Please!

All five Brentwood players featured again in Essex's 10-15 loss to Middlesex at Chingford on Sunday afternoon.
The county side competed well against a strong Middlesex team, and were unlucky not to equal the score late in the game after a long period of pressure in the oppositions 22.
Well done to Jake, Sam, Joel, Matt, and Chris who all acquitted themselves well, and to all the Essex players in another good county display.

Brentwood got themselves back to winning ways with a victory over Harlow on Sunday although the game started badly when not for the first time this season we ended up with only 14 players on the pitch after Michael Good disappeared just before kick off and I nearly had to write a missing persons report…fortunately he turned up again!
Harlow started the game much better than Brentwood and were very close to scoring a try until Sam Morgan made a crunching tackle on one of the Harlow players into touch. From then on, due to weather conditions, the game got quite scrappy with both sides attempting to play rugby but numerous knock on's occurring resulting in many turnovers and scrums.
Eventually Brentwood managed to exert some pressure on Harlow and work their way into their 22, Sam Morgan making a powerful surge for the line to get the first score. Adam’s conversion from out wide was on target but just bounced off the wrong side of the crossbar, 5-0 Brentwood.
After the try the game was still quite messy with turnovers all over the place, despite this Sam Fry managed to make some strong runs and eventually Brentwood worked their way into the Harlow 22, the ball was then turned over again and in trying to clear their lines Harlow decided to kick, however the kick was charged down by a Brentwood player (unfortunately I didn’t see who but if you will play in the furthest corner away from the match reporter…) and Brentwood gained a 5 metre scrum. From the scrum Chris Doble did his usual number 8 pick up to bash over the line and score. The conversion was missed, 10-0 to Brentwood and half time.
Half time saw most of the Brentwood team changed and the immediate effect was that the scrum was suddenly much more dominant, because of this Brentwood created a try scoring chance almost immediately as Joel Ison made a good run and the ball was recycled quickly but the overlap was butchered. Harlow kicked away but some clever thinking by full back Roland Johnson and supporting Jake Eagleton got the ball to Joel who was one on one with the Harlow fullback, who he stepped and went over. Billy Aldous, now on at fly half with his groupies watching, kicked the conversion 17-0 Brentwood.
From the restart Joel Ison caught the ball and came steaming down the touchline and looked to be clear in, especially with his pace but somehow he was short of the line. The ball was recycled to Billy Aldous who popped a pass to Jake Eagleton, coming in on the angle to go under the posts. Billy Aldous again converted, 24-0 Brentwood.
The next restart was caught by William Bassenger who proceeded to make an eel like run through the Harlow defence (not another forward who thinks he’s a back!), He was eventually hauled down but despite the ball being recycled pretty slowly Chris Doble managed to spot a big hole in the defence and went charging through to run in from 40 metres. Billy’s conversion was just wide, 29-0 Brentwood.
The next try came quickly after as again Brentwood got into the Harlow 22 and were right near the line when William ‘5 yard’ Bassenger popped up for one of his usual run over from about a metre out tries! Billy converted, 36-0.
After scoring his try William wasn’t done yet, his next trick at the restart was to take a diving catch which caused a few chuckles among the supporters but unfortunately didn’t amount to anything.
Chris McCarthy was now on at number 8 and after some pressure Brentwood earned a scrum 5 metres from the Harlow line. Chris picked up from the back and crossed the line only to have his try disallowed, from the next scrum he did exactly the same thing and again had a try disallowed. I wish to know why the TMO wasn’t consulted on these…
From the next scrum Harlow cleared their lines but only as far as Roland who took a good high catch and passed to Jordan Hill who danced his way through the defence to score. Billy again converted, 43-0 Brentwood.
Harlow, however, were not about to give up and scored a great try of their own in the last play of the game which was well deserved, the conversion making the final score Brentwood 43, Harlow 7.

ESSEX COUNTY RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION

DISCIPLINARY SUB-COMMITTEE


OPEN LETTER TO CLUBS

I am writing to all Club Secretaries to express my concern and that of Mick Norris, the County President, in respect of the alarming increase in reported cases of referee abuse, involving youth coaches and parents.

All Clubs should be aware of the consequences of any such abuse. Recently at National level, cases of verbal referee abuse have been treated most severely and this is something I feel I must endorse. The entry point for such abuse is 8 weeks and I will be using this as a bench mark.

I would ask you to circulate this message which is also posted on the County website Discipline Section:-

This Committee has become aware that the incidence of abuse from the touchline is increasing to the detriment of the game in general.

It is recognised that the line between that which is acceptable and that which is not is a fine one and often a matter of judgement. Nevertheless, any comment, however mild it may seem to the person saying it, which gives offence to anyone within earshot has to be treated as offensive.

Accordingly, this Committee reminds the officials of all clubs that they are responsible for the behaviour of every person on the touchline whether they are a member of the club or not. As such, they have to take an active part in ensuring that spectators behave in a responsible manner and take positive action against those who offend either at the time or later at an internal hearing.

It is the view of this Committee that nearly all of these incidents are avoidable if prompt action is taken by Club Officials at the time. Therefore, it is hoped that all members, playing and non-playing, will be informed of the dire consequences for their Club should this Committee be required to take formal action.

Sanctions available to this Committee range from a suspension of the individual involved to the deduction of league points and a total ban on the club playing for a period of time.

Rugby has always had the reputation of being a “friendly” sport with goodwill and humour both on and off the field of play. Everyone involved in the sport has the responsibility to ensure that this reputation is maintained. Those who seek to abuse or tarnish the game of rugby can neither expect nor will they receive any sympathy should they become offensive with comments directed either at match officials, players or other spectators.

All clubs should also be in receipt of the RFU Code of Conduct, which I would like circulated within your club.

Hoping this letter goes some way in eradicating referee abuse in Essex.

Yours faithfully,

Gerry Mansfield
Chairman of Discipline Essex

From the kick off it was obvious this was going to be no easy match with some thunderous hits being made, one especially from Sam Morgan which left many spectating mums grimacing and questioning whether it was safe for their 'baby' to play.
Although defence was solid from both sides Brentwood had slightly more attacking pressure but Medway's strong defence was quick to close players down which resulted in loose passes being thrown and turnovers from both teams in a colossal forwards battle.
After a grid locked first quarter where neither side could breach the others defence Medway broke down the touchline and despite another big hit from Sam Morgan they managed to ship the ball out wide where some clever running lines and offloads made it nearly impossible to defend and Medway were in in the corner. The conversion was missed, 5-0 Medway.
The character in the Brentwood team, however, shone through having not been behind in a match for quite a while now heads did not drop and Brentwood were right on the attack, setting up maul after maul which eventually rumbled across the try line where William Bassenger was judged to have been held up. From the resulting 5 metre scrum Chris Doble picked up from the back and was piled over the line. Stuart nailed the conversion, 7-5 Brentwood and half time.
The beginning of the second half saw Medway start stronger and eventually gaining a scrum right near the Brentwood try line. Fortunately Michael Dennis did some brilliant hassling of the opposition scrum half, which Matt Dawson (when he was still playing rather than whinging at the ref!) would have been proud of, and gained a crucial turnover.
After this turnover Brentwood began to maul it, a ferocious maul travelling right to the other end of the pitch before it collapsed. From the ruck Brentwood again set up a maul and when it halted near the try line it was whipped out quickly to the backs, Jordan Hill finishing off the forwards great work and Stuart converting, 14-5 to Brentwood.
Medway were not about to give up though and replied with a try of their own, after mauling it in the Brentwood 22 and then crashing over the try line, the conversion making it 14-12 to Brentwood and setting up a heart stopping last ten minutes. Brentwood clung on frantically to their 2 point lead but Medway sent wave after wave of attack, desperate to get the winning score. Medway got themselves into drop goal position to try and sneak a point victory but the drop goal missed. Then came the drama, the missed drop goal bounced into the in goal area and a Medway player dived on it, try Medway. Screams of "he was offside by about four miles!" were heard from the Brentwood supporters but after consulting the referee he wasn't as when the drop goal had missed it had hit the post, thus playing everyone onside. I personally have never heard this rule but I can't say I've read the rulebook so we'll go with the ref on this one...The conversion was kicked, 19-14 Medway.
For the last few minutes Brentwood struggled to get in the Medway half, visibly drained of energy after what had been a brutal encounter and full time came. Final score Brentwood 14 Medway 19 after a thrilling game in which Brentwood showed real character but were just pipped at (or rather by!) the post.