BRAINTREE RUFC have the chance to end a miserable record.

Last weekend’s 55-28 defeat at Robbs Wood against Saffron Walden was their tenth straight defeat of the season.

The Black and Ambers have yet to record a win this season.

But today they may have a chance to put an end to their losing streak when they visit Old Cooperians, who have also not won a game and sit one place below them on the bottom of the table.

BRUFC joint-coach Brian Joslin did see signs of improvement from the Black and Ambers last weekend.

He said: “It was a much improved performance on the Campion game.

“The forwards did exceptionally well and in the backs, Elliot Dawson, Josh Hine and Joss Adams had great games.

“We just ran out of steam in the last quarter and then we had a man hospitalised by an appalling tackle which cost us one of our best players and really knocked the stuffing out of us.”

CLACTON travel to seventh-placed Upminster buoyed by their second London League division three north east win of the season. They beat fellow strugglers Billericay 34-17 at Valley Road and sit second from bottom in the table.

In Eastern Counties League division one, MERSEA ISLAND entertain Thurston at the Glebe.

After having to call off their match at leaders Southwold last weekend due to lack of numbers, the Islanders will be hoping to make a winning return to action.

However, they will have to do so without influential skipper Jon Williams.

He ruptured a calf muscle in training on Tuesday and could be out of action for five to six weeks.

Williams said: “I was just standing there then it felt as if someone had kicked me in the leg and I went down.

“It was very painful and very disappointing.”

But Williams knows that tomorrow’s game is very important for the Islanders.

He said: “With our call-off we will be deducted five points and that means Thurston will jump above us in the league.

“We need to win and put in some good performances because we don’t want to be in a relegation fight in the new year.”