LONDON 1 (N) THURROCK 35 v 11 ETON MANOR
With the largest crowd at Oakfield for many a year Thurrock overcame their visitors to round off an unbeaten season at home. With the RFU President in attendance it was a fantastic day in the life of Thurrock RFC.
Manor as usual made Thurrock work hard for anything on offer and their physical approach would always mean that running rugby would not be to the fore however Thurrock did try at every opportunity. Frankie Neale kicked an early penalty, which was soon cancelled out by Reed of the visitors, but Thurrock again added a couple of further penalties, thanks to the boot of Neale. It was not until last 10 minutes of the first half that Thurrock got over the whitewash and it was scrum half and man of the match Josh Cook, jinked his way over near the posts enabling Neale to add the extra’s
Reed again gave manor a glimmer of hope with another penalty, which made the half time score 16-6
Thurrock started the second half with much more zip to their game and despite being down to 13 men due to 2 yellow cards, Stanley seeing yellow just 3 minutes before the break and Cooper-Hicks then was given 10 minutes just 2 minutes into the second half, but Thurrock scored within 5 minutes when Cook added his second try, Neale just missed the conversion.
The numerical advantage paid dividends to the visitors as Reed went over in the corner to reduce the deficit, but Thurrocks superior fitness started to tell and only desperate defending kept Thurrock at bay, but replacement scrum Jake Bedding went over near the posts, and then Bradleigh Rettigan scored the bonus point try in stoppage time, Neale converting both for a deserved win
TEAM: Neale, Farrell, B.Stanley, M.Stanley, Boshell, Rudgeley (Gorman), Cook (Bedding), North, Durrance, Bevans-Royston,Cooper-Hicks, Loka (Rate), Timson, Russo , Rettigan
This Saturday Thurrock play their final game of the season when they visit RUISLIP coach will leave the club at 12.15
