Thurrock lose to title favourites!!

CHAMPIONS-elect Westcliff gained revenge for their season’s earlier reversal as they come back from trailing 10pts to 8 to score 20 un-answered points to cement their lead at the top of table.

But it could have been a whole lot different. Thurrock missing eight regular 1st XV players conceded an early try which really should have been defended better. A spilt ball on the half way line was hacked through and despite attention from a couple of covering Thurrock defenders McKeith got the vital touch- down.

Thurrock come back strong and looked dangerous with the ball in their hands, pressure told and Thurrock won a penalty which Jake Barrand duly converted. Then a break by the backs saw Darryl Worster join the line to storm over and score a well worked try, Worster playing as an emergency back row due to injuries.

Barrand added the extra with a well taken conversion. Thurrock still kept the home side on the back foot but lady luck deserted them as a kick ahead from Jake Bedding was missed by the covering Westcliff player given the chasing Nat Farrell the chance to touch down, to everyone’s amazement including the home side the referee gave a 22 drop out assuming the defender had in fact touched it.

Even more disappointment followed has Thurrock still kept the home side pinned in their own half and an overlap gave Dave Stevens the chance to score with the line at his mercy but the pass was poor and he was unable to hold on. So to add insult to injury when Westcliff did venture into the Thurrock half Nick Cooper-Hicks making his debut was penalised and yellow carded for not releasing in the tackle and McKeith added the penalty to make the score 10-8 at the break, a score that should have been on 20-5 to the visitors, more a true reflection of the half.

Thurrock never regained the tempo they had before the break as within 4 minutes of the restart relinquished their lead when Newbury went over, McKeith added the conversion. Then two late tackles in succession gave McKeith the easiest of penalties now Thurrock had to stage a comeback, but tries from Bradley and Harvey sealed victory despite a rousing final 10 minutes from Thurrock who again rued the final pass as a couple chance went begging