TRING 41 v 13 Thurrock
THURROCK made the trip to Cow Lane and despite the recent wet weather the pitch was in remarkably good condition, and set fair for an important game of rugby. It was hardly the result that was expected with Tring completely reversing their fortunes from earlier in the season when losing by 38-10.
Thurrock started much the better and a perfectly good try from James Flavin was disallowed, the referee being unsighted when touching down, Frankie Neale added a penalty moments later. But direct from the restart the ball was secured by the forwards only for the clearance kick to be charged down and the loose ball ran kindly for the Tring backs with Newton crashing over close to the line, he also added the conversion and within a minute a 45 yard penalty within seconds of taking the lead Thurrock found themselves 10-3 down. Neale added another penalty to reduce the deficit as Thurrock had plenty of possession, despite working hard they had nothing to show for it with lack of any penetration nullifying their attacking threat. As the half entered injury time, Tring No8 Tauatosi scored a try, out of the blue and the conversion was the last kick of the half which went wide gave a flattering score line of 15-6 to the home side.
No Thurrock supporter would have expected what was to come as the home side made sure of victory another try from James Brown within two minutes of the restart converted alongside a penalty again from the boot of Newton. Thurrock edged their way back and James Kellard went over under the posts from some good forward pressure, with Neale adding the extras. This gave Thurrock some confidence for a short period, but three tries in last twenty minutes from the home side scores from Newton, Justin Brown and Rheeder all converted by Newton who also added a further penalty for a personal tally of 29 points. This was the second biggest league defeat in 5 seasons and one that Thurrock will have to recover from very quickly.
TEAM: Neale, Farrell, Burcham, Pruce, Gorman, Rudgeley, Cook, Yeomans, Durrance, Bevans-Royston, Flavin, Cooper-Hicks, Russo, Timson, Kellard,
Rep; Rate, Ellis, Barrand
Thurrock travel to Old Elthamians this Saturday, there situated in Chislehurst in Kent, kick off is 2.15
