BRAINTREE Rugby Club coach Jamie Clarke is looking for a big finish to the year as his team keep the pressure on the London League division three Essex front runners.

The Black and Ambers return to Robbs Wood on Saturday, when they will hosts struggling Maldon, buoyed by a 52-19 victory at Barking.

That win left Braintree fifth in the table and Clarke now wants to press on in two big home games before the festive period.

He said: “It was a really great team display (at Barking).

"Our defence was outstanding and we got the balance right in terms of attacking with our forwards and releasing our backs.

“It’s always nice to win away and we now have two games at home before Christmas where we can hopefully carry our form into the New Year and finish with a run of wins.”

Braintree chairman of selectors David Gilder added: “We really needed a win to revitalise us for the run in to Christmas with two home games coming up.

“To get such a good win away was superb.

"Scoring at over a point a minute for the first half was more than we could have hoped for.

“It was great to see Josh Wadforth back in black and amber after a period working away and he produced a superb performance.

“Flanker Charlie Marsden was a potent force with ball in hand and terrorised the Barking defence, tackling all over the park and rightly earning the Colebrook Offshore Man of the Match award."