BRAINTREE put the icing on the cake of a much-improved 2012-13 campaign by defeating newly promoted Woodford to win the Essex Intermediate Cup.
Tree's opponents may have been expecting a straightforward afternoon's work, but the Black and Ambers had trained hard in the run-up to this encounter and caught their rivals by surprise.
Tree were the better side, with a superior try tally of five to two, but the sin-binning of Dave Martindale ten minutes from time made for a nervy ending.
Chairman of selectors Jeff Lewis said: "This was a richly deserved victory and testament to all the hard work the lads had put in at training in the run-up to the final.
"Woodford have been promoted from our league this season and beaten us twice so we were definitely the underdogs.
"But the lads were really up for it and they defended heroically towards the end of the game when Dave Martindale was in the sin-bin and they came within two points of us.
"We really had to dig deep to protect what we had and it was a joy when Dane Crush sprinted away to score his second under the posts late on and seal the victory.
"It's the first time we've won the Essex Intermediate Cup and it was a great way to finish the season. Full credit to all the boys – now we need a trophy cabinet!"
Kingsley Joslin, Dan Johnston, Dane Crush (2), Myles McLagan scored the tries.
BRUFC: Joslin, Ladyman, D Crush, Adams, Whyatt, Monk, Martindale, Robertson, Avitable, Baker, Pickles, Rivals, Hett, Turner, Johnston. Reps: Joe Stevens, Perry, Jones, Kerr, Dawson, McLagan, K Crush
