BRAINTREE Rugby Club's fortunes hit an all-time low on Saturday as their scratch team suffered their 16th straight defeat of the season as they were comprehensively beaten 34-0 at home by Essex rivals South Woodham Ferrers.
And to make matters even worse for the black and ambers Old Cooperians recorded a shock 29-14 win over Enfield Ignatian to leap-frog Tree and leave them rooted to the bottom of London Two North East.
With a number of first team regulars still in Cardiff celebrating England's win over Wales on Friday night, joint-coach Brian Joslin was forced to make 11 changes to the previous week's starting line-up.
The new recruits battled manfully and gave their all but they were no match for a well drilled SWF side, which became the latest team in the division to complete the double over Tree.
To their credit the home side's mix and match forwards line-up held their own at the set piece and managed to secure enough possession to allow the backs to mount a series of attacks.
But a lack of control in the final 10 metres meant they were unable to find the clinical finishing necessary to convert their forays upfield into points.
Joslin said: "It's a very testing time for everyone concerned with the first team at the moment and it's becoming increasingly difficult to motivate our players to train.
"Nobody likes getting beaten week in, week out but this is where the boys have to show their mettle and battle their way to that elusive first win of the season.
"Our forwards performed so much better than they did in the previous game between the two sides but whereas Ferrers were clinical in their finishing the blood went to our heads when we had chances to score.
"Our front row of James Perry, Dave Baker and James Fairchild put in a great shift and our centres George Crane and Alex Randall tackled tenaciously all game.
"Our half-backs Darren Page and Dan Olley also had good games and everyone who pulled on their shirt gave their all. I couldn't have asked for more by way of effort and determination."
Tree are without a game this weekend but return to league action when they travel to Norfolk on February 21 for what promises to be a huge challenge away to Diss, who went top with their last gasp 20-17 win away to Holt on Saturday.
