Braintree Rugby Club finished their season with the usual round of 'Sevens' matches.

The seniors went to Thurrock for the B.L. Office Centre Essex Merit Table Tournament with a mixed third and fourth team.

The first matches sorted out the teams going into the Cup proper, and those who moved into the Plate competition.

Drawn against Thurrock B, they narrowly won 14-12 with tries by Andy Jenkins and Karl Purdy, both converted by Dean Ford.

In a mini league for the first round of the Cup they met up with Thurrock A who won 25-7, the try by Purdy, converted by Ford.

Their good fortunes returned in the next encounter when they beat Old Brentwoods 17 - 7.

Darren Page scored the first try, John Keeley the second, and Purdy got himself on the score sheet with the third try, as did Ford with the conversion.

This was not enough to continue on in the competition, but they showed themselves to be worthy contributors and added to the enjoyment of the day.

While the seniors were at Thurrock, the Under 17s and Under 15s travelled together for the Hudson Signs 7s tournament at Ipswich.

The U17s had a series of hard matches in which, although they lost, they put up some spiriting performances against teams they would struggle against in the full 15-a-side game.

The shortage of teams meant that the event changed to a league format with their results as follows: v Ipswich L 7-17; v Diss L 0-21; v West Norfolk L 14-29; v Sudbury L 19-29; v Harwich L 17-20. Tries: Andrew Yates (5), Jason Potts (3), Michael Lacey. Conversions: Jason Potts (6).

The U15s were more successful. In the first round they beat West Norfolk 24-7, Harwich 15-12, but lost to Wymondham 0-34.

This put them into the semi-final against the winners of the other group, Diss, who were beaten comfortably 21-12.

In the final they met up with Wymondham again, but with a refreshed team and a determination to take the title they just edged the win with three tries against two converted tries 15-14.

Tries: Joshua Winwood (5), Dean Penn (3), Will Hutley, Terry Curtis, Chris Osmond, Luke McDonald and Joe Draper. Conversions: Will Hutley (5).

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