Ts back to winning ways

THURROCK bounced back from two straight defeats with probably their best performance of the season in this exciting victory over their Kent based rivals. Not only did they gain revenge after defeat before Christmas but did it in some style. Early home pressure reaped its reward, with Ben Madden scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes with Jake Barrand adding a conversion to the second try for a 12-0 lead. However the visitors came straight back and from a line out close to the Thurrock line they set up a forward’s rolling maul and the converted try reduced the deficit to just 5 points.

Thurrock looked lively and the good ball movement meant the backs looked dangerous in attacking phases, and it was no surprise to see captain Darryl Worster go over close the post’s giving Barrand the easiest of conversions to establish a 12 point cushion. But Colfe’s would not lie down, and when Ben Madden was harshly yellow carded they made the most of the closing 5 minutes and made the extra man tell with a converted try close to the half time whistle, to trail by 19-14

Thurrock again looked the to run the ball at every opportunity and for the second week running were done by a intercepted pass as the Colfe’s winger took a gamble and sprinted 60 metres for the another converted try to take the lead for the first time. But their lead last only a few minutes as back row Nick Cooper-Hicks playing his first home game since joining from Colchester celebrated in style scoring a try under the posts, Barrand adding the extra’s with the conversion, and then a penalty to put Thurrock three scores ahead. It was now all Thurrock has their enterprise began to reap rewards added to the introduction of Joss Nunn with 15 minutes to go another colt making his debut was on hand to give a scoring pass to Earl Gorman who replaced Ben Madden following his time in the sin-bin, scored a fine try close to the posts, Barrand was again on target with the conversion. The icing was then put on the cake when Nunn himself using his outstanding pace went over in the corner, a cameo 15 minutes which augers well for the future.