Braintree produced one of their best performances of the season to date as they all but finished off Thetford before half-time with a powerful display of running rugby and hard tackling.
The hard earned win gives them an admirable record of three wins and a solitary defeat so far this campaign - one they will wish to consolidate when they make the long journey north to face current league leaders Lowestoft & Yarmouth at Corton this Saturday.
The trusty boot of fly-half Craig Willis - who only slightly blotted his copybook with a yellow card three minutes from time - fired the black and ambers into an early six point lead with two penalties inside the first seven minutes.
Tree's first try came when centre Andy Bennett chased after his own kick through after a Thetford midfield move broke down and was first to the ball to go over for a score which was ably converted by playmaker Willis.
The home side stretched their lead to 20-0 after 24 minutes when Lewis Hett broke through to make a fine run which was supported by Josh Winwood, who outstripped the Norfolk side's defence to score try number two.
Willis converted the try and then added another penalty as Thetford paid a heavy price for defensive errors. Hett then scored the black and ambers' third try, again converted by Willis, to give the home side a seemingly unassailable 30-0 lead.
Thetford though proved they weren't quite ready to throw in the towel as full-back Martin Sands went over just before the interval for a converted try to reduce the arrears and give the visitors a glimmer of hope.
The second half was only seven minutes old when Tree's man of the match Mark Warriner messed up a Thetford line-out close to their own line and crashed through to score with Willis adding the obligatory conversion.
Thetford hit back with a try from Barry Scott before scrum-half Dan Phillips executed an outrageous dummy after Tree won a shortened line-out and ripped through the visitors' dishevelled defence and went over to record score number five.
Willis's anticipated conversion gave Tree a 44-12 lead and although Thetford hit back with late tries from Ian Reynolds and replacement Scott Wykham the home side were well satisfied with their day's work.
Published Wednesday October 30, 2002
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