Jekyll & Hyde Performance

TRING 49
THURROCK 10

As much as 2016 ended on high, 2017 started with a bump as Thurrock gave a real Jekyll & Hyde performance. The first half was a good one for the visitors and started well as Freddie Russo went over to score a well worked try. Tom Worsfold added the conversion and then a penalty as Thurrock went 10-0 ahead. Russo went from hero to villain as he was given a yellow card for an altercation off the ball. That proved to be a contentious moment as the referee kept him off the field for nearly 15 minutes in which time the home exploited the gap wide to score and bring the scores closer and at the break the visitors led 10-7 and looked as if an upset could be on the cards.
But Thurrock conceded 28 points in a horrible 13 minute period at the start of the second half as Thurrock imploded, not helped by missed knock-ons and forward passes and then a further 3 yellow cards given to White, Brunger and Charlie Russo in the second period adding insult to injury as if things went wrong they went wrong knocks to Worsfold, Durrance and Papuni which did not help matters. Then the referee awarded a penalty try as the home side collapsed but deemed a Thurrock infringement.
It is very rare that you would single out a refereeing performance that abetted a defeat but on this occasion it certainly had a lot to do with it and undoubtedly flattered the home side, but not taking away Tring’s second half performance would no doubt edged victory on the day.
It was 40 minutes to forget !!!

TEAM: WHITE, RUSSO F, COLLINS, FARRELL, BARRAND, WORSFOLD,MURPHY, BRUNGER, DURRANCE, CURRIE, NIMMO, SHAW, PAPUNI, RUSSO C, RETIGAN REP; HULSE, GORMAN, EVERITT