Saturday saw Braintree able to field just five first choice players and the result reflects what effectively became a first XV v second XV fixture.

As the season wears on Braintree's injury problems grow greater with yet another injury, this time to Billy Maddams in the front-row.

With the other prop Nigel Bartrum away on business, it now means that Braintree will have to withdraw from next Sunday's Eastern Counties Cup match against Thurrock as they are unable to keep to the rules of the competition with respect to replacements.

The changes meant that Braintree started slowly as the team organised themselves.

The home side took advantage of the situation to start on a scoring spree that lasted a full 20 minutes. Quick ruck ball from the forwards left Braintree flat-footed as the ball was spun out wide where the speedy wings had the space to run around the defensive line.

The Black and Amber forwards eventually stemmed the flow by tightening up at the front and starved Finchley's three-quarters of clean possession.

From the re-start Finchley got back into their stride. They dominated in the line-outs and they won most loose possession in the rucks.

It was left to Braintree's forwards to halt their opposition's progress, again tightening up the match into a nine-man game.

With solid scrums followed by driving mauls they worked their way upfield.

Full of confidence the home side was in no mood to concede points, and the Black and Ambers were unable to break through for even a consolation score.

On Saturday Braintree II's play Maldon II's away with the thirds at home to Stanford I in a B L Office Centre Essex Merit Division three match. The fourths are at home to Maldon III. Finchley finish Braintree's resistance

BRAINTREE II.......................0

FINCHLEY II........................15

The North London based side looked the part with some aggressive forward play coupled with slick handling along the three-quarters.

However, Braintree raised their game to match their visitors and this provided an exciting match for the spectators.

Dan Phillips opened the home side's account when Paul Aldridge took the ball into a tuck.

Phillips popped the ball to Dave Salisbury-Higgs on the charge, then close to the line Phillips sold one of his classic dummies to wrong-foot the defence and dive over.

Two of the younger up and coming players set up Braintree's other try. Neil Rowland took on second-phase crash ball, to draw the defence, then passed to Steven Gleeson on the burst who had a clear run to the line. Hadleigh triumph

HADLEIGH III.....................36

BRAINTREE III...................17

Hadleigh's third string were up for this match and in the first half outplayed their visitors to set up a 17-0 advantage at the interval.

Braintree came back strongly after the break with tries by Alex Mabbot, Andy Hett, and Chris Purcell.

A conversion by Johnny Murray brought the scores even, but the home side recovered in the last ten minutes to win in the end by a convincing score-line.

Other results: Braintree IV 12, Shelford IV 24; Braintree Colts 0, Chelmsford Colts 33; Braintree U16 15, Chelmsford U16 8 (Tries: Craig Willis, Stuart Cornelius and Jamie Wilkins); Braintree U15 15, Billericay U15 41 (Tries: Sam McKinlay, Oke Ajuwa, and Kris Coote); Chelmsford U13 36, Braintree U13 22 (Tries: Thomas Brand, Luke Frances, Jason Hadley and penalty try. Conversion Jason Hadley); Bishops Stortford U12 38, Braintree U12 0; Bishops Stortford U11 5, Braintree U11 7 ((Tries: David Duffus. Conversion Jason Ford); Bishops Stortford U10A 0, Braintree U10A 20 (Tries: Carl Hastler (2), Chris King and Richard Stevens); Bishops Stortford U10B 5, Braintree U10B 5 (Try: Richard Stevens); Braintree U10A/B 0, Tabard U10 0; Bishops Stortford U9A 5, Braintree U9A 0; Bishops Stortford U9A 5, Braintree U9A 0; Bishops Stortford U9B 5, Braintree U9B 5 (Try Sam Hayden); Braintree U9 35, Tabard U9 0 (Tries: Joseph Stevens (3), Christopher Vince (2), Aidan Pemberton and James Duffus). Bishops Stortford U8 10, Braintree U8 10 (Tries: Callum Southgate and Lloyd Dare); Bishops Stortford U8 30, Braintree U8 10 (Tries: Callum Southgate and Tony Rowe); Bishops Stortford U8 5, Braintree U8 10 (Tries: Tony Rowe and Edward Day; Bishops Stortford U7A 35, Braintree U7 10 (Tries: Charles Marsden (2)); Bishops Stortford U7B 40, Braintree U7 40 (Tries: Charles Marsden (3), Jamie Masters (2), Luke Dawson, and James Tunningley); Bishops Stortford U7C 10, Braintree U7 20 (Tries: Charles Marsden (3) and Jamie Masters); Tabard U7 15, Braintree U7 15 (Tries: Jamie Masters, Callum Vince, and Luke Dawson.).

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