THURROCK 69 v 0 STAINES
THURROCK entertained lowly Staines in front of their VP’s and came away with a very workmanlike win. Losing Frankie Neale and James Kellard before kick off with illness and injury meant a quick reshuffle to the side but the changes made little difference to the excellent start. Jake Barrand was one of those drafted in late and was first on the scoreboard wide out; he took over the kicking duties but was short with his first attempt as the home side were 5-0 ahead within 5 minutes.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors on from restart visiting second row Nathan Orpen-Palmer took a knock on the head and laid still unconscious for 5 minutes after treatment he was stretchered off and we all hope he makes a full recovery, at the same time hooker Mac Ishola limped off with a damaged ankle. Staines had only one replacement as their second was also their medical man whom had to look after the injuries, he did however make an entrance with 15 minutes to go and he came closest to putting Staines on the score sheet in the closing stages but was tackled just short of the Thurrock line.
Staines now with 14 men worked hard but some indiscipline did not help their cause getting 2 yellow cards, one right on the stroke of half time. Thurrock always had the power and skill to score at regular intervals, adding to the early Barrand score, first half tries came from Nathan Farrell who scored 3, Josh Cook and man of the match Nick Cooper-Hicks, with 4 conversions from the boot of Jake Barrand to give Thurrock a 38-0 lead.
The second half was much like the first, fly half Ian Rudgeley who has not scored a try this season bagged himself a brace with Barrand adding his second and further score’s from Michael Thomas and Earl Gorman, with Barrand converting 3 more times to get to his personal tally to 24. The win was another step closer to safety but now face a run of three tough games, the next two being away from Oakfield.
TEAM: Barrand, Farrell, Pruce, Burcham, (Gorman 40m), Boshell Rudgeley, Cook, North, Durrance, Bevans-Royston (Rate 68m), Flavin, M.Thomas, Timson, Cooper-Hicks, Rettigan (Ellis 57m)
Thurrock are at AWAY to DORKING this Saturday, kick off is 2.30pm
