With Cambridge at the top of the League, and needing points to ensure that second-placed Ipswich could not catch them, Braintree caught the home side at their very best.

Cambridge have strengthened their squad dramatically from the one that the Black and Ambers beat last season, making the point that to move upwards the importation of paid players is becoming the norm at this level.

A series of missed tackles led to the home side setting up a healthy lead and, as the match progressed, overlaps were created at regular intervals leaving Braintree's open to attack.

Regan, at full-back, was one of the players who kept hIs standard up with a number of try saving tackles.

Although the forwards were outgunned in open play, in the tight scrum they held firm, and Steve Sewell won the battle of the front-rows taking ball against the head.

Once away from the pack, solid tackling from the Cambridge three-quarters forced errors and their own forwards took control of possession again.

Without any space to run in, the normally excellent Braintree backs were unable to make any headway into Cambridge territory.

The tactical change of bringing Chris McCann on for Darren Smith in the second half did little to Improve Braintree's chances.

Next weekend a large contingent travel to Tipperary for their Easter tour with so many away it was not expected for any matches to be arranged.

The week following, however, the firsts and seconds play host to Hadleigh, while the thirds travel away to play Dagenham for a BL Office Centre Division 3 fixture.

The fourths are also away for a return fixture against Kings Cross Steelers. Cambridge thirds win in style

Cambridge III... 48

Braintree III... 25

Cambridge, unable to field a second team, put out a strong third side for Braintree to tackle.

Braintree battled hard to get onto more even terms, but they were never able to gain the upper hand for long enough to make a difference to the final score line.

Tony MacDonald, coming ever closer to the end of his career, scored Braintree's first try, but at the other end of the spectrum, the up and coming Kurt Hughes showed the Cambridge defence a clean pair of heels, and promise for the future; as his powerful running took him over for two tries.

Simon Fookes completed the day's scoring with a try, conversion, and a penalty. Braintree fourth string bucks the trend

Braintree IV... 34

Cambridge IV... 19

Braintree started this match briskly enough, but against the run of play Cambridge ran in a try, leaving the homeside slightly perplexed.

But Kevin Duckworth followed up with two quick tries with Braintree back in the driving seat. Just before the turnaround a concerted effort by the visitors led to a converted try and a half-time lead.

In the second period Braintree settled down to a more consistent approach to the match. Playing more as 15 rather than individuals, they began to take greater control.

Dave Ross barged his way over the line for a try, converted by Duckworth. Cambridge responded yet again with another converted try, but a Duckworth penalty regained the lead once more not this time to be squandered.

Sponsor of the team Andy Jenkins, from O'Reilly's Bar, then went over for first try for the club.

Another driving run by Ross took him over for his second try Duckworth sealed the victory converting both the tries for a personal nineteen-point tally. Braintree young guns in fine form

Braintree Colts 24, Shelford Colts 7, Braintree U15 54 Upper Clapton U15 5.

Braintree's Mini Section had their tour this weekend based at Ilam Hall in the Peak District.

The tour ended with a day at Alton Towers, but before that the fun had to be earned with some tough matches at Peterborough, on Saturday and Paviors, Nottingham, on Sunday.

Results were as follows: U9 v Peterborough (1) W 35-0 Tries- Christopher Vince (3), Piers Nightingale, Jack Keeble, George Marsden, and James Duffus. U9 v Peterborough (2) W 28-0 Tries - James Duffus (2), Joseph Stevens, Craig Roper, and Piers Nightingale. U9A v Paviors A D 25-25 Tries: - James Duffus (3); Jack Keeble and Piers Nightingale.

U9B v Paviors B D 10-1- Tries - James Duffus and Joseph Stevens. U10A v Peterborough A W 10-5 tries - Glen Whyatt and Karl Ostler.

U10B v Peterborough B L 30-0; U10A v Paviors A W 15-0 Tries - Glen Whyatt, Edward Marsden, and Jack Gibbs, U10B v Paviors B L 15-10 Tries:- Gareth Barton and James Pemberton. U11 v Peterborugh W 21-0 Tries:- Oliver Salisbury-Higgs, Michael Draper, and Sam Davidson.

Conv:- Jason Ford (2), U11 v Paviors W 42-0 Tries:- Aaron Entwhistle (2), Jonathon Stevens, Sam Davidson, David Duffus, Harry Marsden, and Freddie Stringer, U12 v Peterborough W 5-0 Try - Stuart Tate.

Paviors did not have an U12 side.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.