SSE National 3 (LSE)
Thurrock 15 v 6 Hertford
THE weather enforced a two week break and Thurrock’s chance to get back to winning ways following their frustration of the last minute defeat early in January. Thurrock unlucky losers at Hertford early in the season started much the brighter and were playing most of the offensive rugby, but failed to find a way through mainly due to resolute defence and some unforced errors. But it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play when full back Macpherson-Smith kicked a penalty with the advantage of a very strong wind behind his back. Hertford gained some confidence from this probably had one of their better spells of the match but were unable to add to their solitary penalty.
Thurrock started to regain the upper hand but a couple of penalty attempts from Frankie Neale both fell short against the wind, so the next chance on the half hour mark was kicked to the corner and some excellent forward play resulted in a try from back row James Kellard, the wide out conversion again fell short. However Thurrock did not hold on to the lead for long as Thurrock were penalised for offside and Macpherson-Smith made no mistake to give Hertford the lead at the break 6-5
Thurrock now with the wind at their backs struggled to get the ball in the opening exchanges but the visitors did not make much ground to threaten the Thurrock line, and some good defensive kicking started to pin Hertford back, and the home side retook the lead when Nat Farrell outsprinted the defence to score in the corner, the conversion again wide on what was not an easy day for the kickers. Thurrock kept up their hard work in trying to make the game safe as they applied plenty of pressure and missed out on a try when the ball dropped over the line, but with 7 minutes remaining Lewis Pruce used his strength to go over shrugging off three tackles to score. The way the game panned out the 9 point gap was always going to be a mountain to climb for Hertford despite the home side getting two yellow cards in the final quarter, they held out to a win that overtook their opponents, and Thurrock ever closer to safety.
TEAM: Neale, Farrell, Pruce, Burcham, Gorman, Rudgeley, Cook, North, Durrance, Bevans-Royston, Flavin, Ellis, Timson, Kellard, Rettigan
Rep; Rate, Loka, Barrand
Thurrock are at HOME to STAINES this Saturday, kick off is 3pm
