LONDON 2 NORTH: Yarmouth 38 Braintree 22

BRAINTREE’s inexperienced team gave a spirited account of themselves on the Norfolk-Suffolk border but still went down to a five-try defeat.

Having been thwarted by some over-officious refereeing in their campaign opener at Ipswich a week earlier, Braintree were at least able to finish the game with all their players.

But their scrum struggled to compete with the hosts and although their line-out stood up to rigorous examination they were outgunned in the backs.

The black and ambers started slowly and it was against the run of play when winger Glen Whyatt scored the first try of a deserved hat-trick, when he powered over in the left hand corner in the 10th minute.

Their lead lasted just five minutes as the hosts hit back with a try of their own in Braintree’s left hand corner courtesy of Tyler Beales.

A Joss Adams penalty on 22 minutes edged the visitors 8-5 ahead but the home side drew level three minutes later with a penalty from former Tongan international and Neath Swansea Ospreys star Dave Tiueti.

The hosts finally got their noses in front on the half-hour when outside centre Myles McAlone crashed over to score and give his side a 13-8 interval lead.

After the break Braintree’s scrum started functioning better but the home side began twisting the knife.

Another Tiueti penalty a minute after the re-start was followed by a 48th minute Scott Nelson try, duly converted by the Tongan, which put the hosts 23-8 in front.

Winger Matt Howell crossed the line on 59 minutes to extend their lead to 28-8 which finally stung Tree into action.

Whyatt added the second of his tries after good work from number eight Jonno Stevens on 63 minutes, with Adams converting to reduce the deficit to 28-15.

Adams was also on hand to kick the extra points for the visitors after Whyatt completed his hat-trick with another try on 74 minutes to bring Brainree within six points of their opponents.

But just as their followers started believing an unlikely comeback was on the cards, Yarmouth turned on the gas.

Another Tiueti penalty a minute before time was followed by an injury time second try from Nelson, converted by the former Ospreys man, to secure a 38-22 victory.