Rugby: Tottonians 21 v 27 Thurrock
THURROCK were in a confident mood as they travelled to Southampton but arrived late due to accidents on M3 however this setback did not seem to affect them as they put the home side under pressure for the first ten minutes eventually they made the pressure pay Darryl Worster entered the line and offloaded inside to the supporting prop Scott Turner who touched down close to the posts for a try converted by Jake Barrand
From the kick off Thurrock gained a scrum after Totts infringed at a line out. The ball was spun along the visitors back line but was intercepted and offloaded to Dylan Baptiste who sprinted in from Thurrock’s ten metre line to touch down in the corner 5-7.
Halfway through the first half Totts were pinged for not rolling away on their ten metre. Backchat saw the referee advance the penalty ten metres for a penalty in front of the posts, the simple kick from Barrand increasing the visitors lead 5-10. Despite a sustained period of pressure by Totts for the last five minutes of the half this remained the score at half time.
Five minutes into the second half Totts kicked long from their own half. Thurrock’s full back shepherded the ball over the dead ball line hoping for a scrum back. Unfortunately, the ball had been touched in flight and a scrum five was awarded to Totts. Totts bundled Thurrock back over their own line and Williams picked up and spun over to score, Colmer added the extras, 12-10. then was successful with a penalty kick awarded on Thurrock’s ten metre line when they failed to release at a ruck 15-10.
A fracas followed the award and Thurrock’s number eight was yellow carded. From the restart Totts launched a long clearance kick which was run back. The ball was switched inside and Thurrock’s inside centre Henry Bird received the ball to barrel over under the posts for a converted try with Barrand’s conversion regaining Thurrock lead by 17-15
With seven minutes remaining Totts were penalised for not releasing but Thurrock’s complaints saw the penalty reversed and Colmer gave Totts the lead again with another thirty five metre penalty
Barrand however kicked Thurrock back into the lead with an easy penalty Thurrock sealed the game with the minutes remaining. They maintained pressure on Totts and worked the ball wide before their substitute winger Nat Farrell cut back against the drift to score under the posts, Barrand’s converted again to make it 27-18
with two minutes remaining and three penalties conceded by the visitors gave Colmer a chance to salvage a losing bonus point and he slotted the penalty which was followed by the final whistle and a much deserved Thurrock win.
This week Thurrock entertain MEDWAY at Oakfield kick off is 3pm
