Ayres’ late try is scant consolation for Clapton

A DIRE display by Upper Clapton saw them drop two places to sixth in the table.

The game could not have started better for the visitors when Dan Smith crashed over in the opening minutes, with a try that he also converted.

The lead was short-lived, as a quick couple of converted scores put the Old boys 14-7 in front.

And some further sloppy play by the visitors allowed the hosts to run in a couple more tries. With one of these also being converted Brentwoods had a commanding 26-7 advatage.

In the second half the visitors started strongly, and following a good passing move Tim Philps managed to evade two tackles before crashing over the line. Smith added the extras to close the gap to 26-14.

The home side then scored a rather fortunate try to increase their lead back to 19 points after the conversion was also added.

Dean Kemp was then dispatched to the sin-bin for killing the ball and another converted try by Brentwood made it 40-14.

Clapton managed to make one last-ditch attack and from a quick tap penalty Lee Garwood popped the ball to hooker, Adam Ayres who managed to fight his way over the line.