With snow flurries in the air, Brentwood welcomed Leighton Buzzard for their first visit to King George's having won the reverse fixture 33-14 on an equally cold day back in December. After last week's bruising encounter, eight changes were required to Brentwood's match day 18. In the pack Calvin Close started at hooker with Neil Venables switching to the bench and Jack Mayes and Jack Wells came into the backrow. The backline saw Alex Wilson move to outside centre with Saulge Hubert and Colby Dobson taking up the wing positions and Jack Rocke and Lewis Holmes completing the bench. Injured James Vogel was missing only his second game of the season, so James Killington took on the captaincy for the day.

Brentwood were forced into a final ninth change on the match day; Ed Hornby answering an SOS call 40 minutes before kick-off to ask if he could play rather than spectate after some friendly fire in the warm-up saw Ewan May wiped out...With Brentwood having named a total of zero backs on the bench, Ed slotted straight in at 15 after a warm-up jog from the carpark...

In spite of the pre-match disruption, Brentwood started well up the slope; Kyle Garnett taking a difficult kick-off to set Toby Tierney off on a typically strong carry up field. Dan Suttle had supported well and was on hand to carry the move on, powering further up the field before releasing Colby Dobson who outpaced the Buzzard defence for the game’s opening try. Jamie Cox added the extras, 7-0.

Undeterred by the early try concession, Leighton Buzzard regrouped and got themselves back into the game with shrewd tactical kicking forcing Brentwood into some loose play in their own 22. Having earned a scrum from a Brentwood knock on, Buzzard put the pressure on and a big nudge at the scrum tied in Brentwood’s forwards and gave Buzzard’s backline too much space, allowing them to hit back with a converted try of their own, 7-7.

Brentwood didn’t panic and, after winning the ball back from a Fraser Parris turnover, set about exerting some pressure of their own. Having gone through multiple phases and worked their way to within 10 metres of the Buzzard try line, a lazy runner from Buzzard got in the way of a Brentwood pass. It disrupted the attack sufficiently that the referee deemed it cynical, warranting a yellow card and Brentwood penalty. Brentwood opted for the corner and with the lineout operating successfully set the maul up. Initially Buzzard defended well but on the second rumble Brentwood gained the momentum and couldn’t be stopped from getting over the try line, Terry Snooks emerging from the bottom of the pile of bodies with the ball in hand to claim the try. Jamie Cox’s conversion took the score to 14-7.

Brentwood further prospered from their man advantage just a few minutes later, Jamie Cox spying a gap to ghost through to take play up to the 22. Toby Tierney and Dan Suttle were once again heavily involved in taking the ball on further in the next couple of phases before Fraser Parris spotted an opening to rocket between two Buzzard defenders and over for the score, Jamie Cox converted 21-7.

Leighton Buzzard were now back to their full complement, but Brentwood maintained the impetus; unwilling to relinquish the ball they worked their way back up the slope once more in a solid team effort of both forwards and backs carrying and linking well. Eventually they were rewarded when Fraser Parris bundled over the try line for his second of the day and Brentwood’s fourth, Jamie Cox extending the lead to 28-7.

Leighton Buzzard responded once again and dominated both possession and territory for the remainder of the half, only a good last-ditch tackle from Ed Hornby and a timely turnover from Jack Wells halting a couple of dangerous attacks. However, with the three try hoodoo seemingly broken in the last few weeks it was time for another good friend of Brentwood's to make an appearance - the just before half time try concession! Having successfully weathered Buzzard's attacks and finally regained possession, an intercept was thrown and picked off by the Buzzard defence. Buzzard wasted no time on the counter and charged down field, linking up to score a try that still needed a lot of finishing after the initial Brentwood error. The conversion missed leaving the half time score at 28-12.

Those who made the trip to Leighton Buzzard will recall the scoreless second half not terribly fondly but fortunately (unless you happen to be writing the match report...) this was not to be the case this time round. Brentwood returned to the pitch looking to snuff out any sign of a Buzzard comeback and were soon on the scoreboard again; Colby Dobson running well into space before the Jacks on the flanks, Mayes and Wells, carried the move on further. Buzzard were penalised for slowing the ball and Tom Lucas-Roast wasn't hanging around, tapping and going to sneak over for a quick-thinking try with Jamie Cox adding another two, taking the score to 35-12.

Brentwood's next try came almost immediately when Ed Hornby returned the restart via his cultured boot for a beautiful 50/22. Brentwood attacked well off the lineout and were awarded another penalty, this time opting to tap to Kyle Garnett who almost made it over the line by himself but was hauled down just short. With a significant number of defenders having been tied in trying to stop Kyle, Brentwood spotted the space out wide and soft hands from Toby Tierney set Saulge Hubert free on the wing to canter in for the try. Jamie Cox nonchalantly knocked over the touchline conversion, 42-12.

With a couple of injuries having been acquired, Brentwood now had 5 backrowers on the field (only bested by their record 7 at Harpenden) with Toby Tierney and Jack Mayes now making up the centre pairing...However, this proved to be a masterstroke, Toby cutting a wonderful switch line straight through Buzzard's defence and getting an audacious offload away to the supporting Terry Snooks who wasn't going to be stopped on his way to the try line. Just as Simon Whaley uttered "he's been kicking really well today," the conversion attempt drifted wide, 47-12.

Buzzard continued to battle and caused Brentwood a few headaches in the final ten minutes, but it was Brentwood who were to have the last say on the scoreboard. After Buzzard had extinguished a promising Brentwood counterattack from a loose kick, their lineout misfired and an overthrow landed in the grateful arms of Jack Rocke. Heading down hill at full tilt there was absolutely no chance of stopping him as he skittled the attempted tackles on his way to the try line for a popular score with the watching Brentwood crowd. Simon kept quiet and Jamie Cox added the extras, 54-12 Brentwood and full time.

From a Brentwood perspective, a good win and display of clinical execution against a spirited Leighton Buzzard side with several strong individual performances to take into consideration for next week. Saturday is the last away league game of the season which sees Brentwood make the journey west to take on 10th placed Belsize Park. Brentwood were 26-17 winners in December and will be hoping for a repeat to make it 3 league wins on the bounce.