Chingford RFC U16 v Thurrock RFC U16

Chingford RFC U16 v Thurrock RFC U16 (Friendly) 05.03.17

Thurrock travelled over to League 3 leaders Chingford for a development game as they were without the Essex DPP members and some others, (after a late night party…news spreads fast), but had a squad of 15 which meant all of them had to put a 70 minute shift in…
Chingford had a good sized squad and were looking to give experience to some fresh players, so it was looking to be a good game.

Ts started off sprightly and despite the previous few hours’ rain, handling was surprisingly good.
It was from a bit of phase play, (they hadn’t forgot about this), and through the hands the ball landed with Jake who sprinted around a couple of tackles to score Ts first try. Jordan had a pop from the right but was just wide with the extras. A short time after and rolling through the phases again, the ball ended up with Luke who again sprinted in for a fine score. Again Jordan was unlucky with the extras.

Ts kept up the tempo and were playing some good rugby, still going through the phases and this was producing over laps in the backs, which gave them extra enthusiasm, moving and looping, and Jake was working hard in the backs and was able to loop around and collect the ball to run in under the posts, and once he caught his breath, he slotted over for the extras.
Chingford responded well and pressed forward through some good handling of their own, and despite some good defence and tackling by Ts Chingford rampaged over for an unconverted try – Ts led 17 – 5 at HT.

The second half was a lot closer and was end to end. The first points came off the boot of Chingford slotting over a penalty in front of the posts. Ts gathered their senses and started going back through the phases, although at times they seemed to be playing ‘hell for leather rugby’, instead of slowing it down and regrouping. When it settled down, Ts upped the ante and put the ball through their hands and Jake gratefully ran over for his hat-trick score but this time Asa missed with the extras, hitting the upright. From the restart, Ts were still on a high and kept pressing, and through some great rucking and recycling, Gabriel crashed over for his first try for Thurrock. Jake, claiming he was knackered, woefully missed with the extras, actually grubber kicking the ball in front of the posts.

The game was a great one to watch as it was very close despite the score line, and Chingford probably deserved more out of it, but Ts were clinical when they put their minds to it. Although it got a bit feisty towards the end, the game was played with great sportsmanship & good spirit, and both sets of players were very complimentary of each other.
Praise must go to David & Gabriel in their first full game for Thurrock, with Gabriel scoring and David putting in a man of the match performance, but all in all a great team effort.

Chingford RFC U16s 8 - 27 Thurrock RFC U16s
Tries; 1 x Try
Pens; 1 x Pen

Thurrock RFC U16s;
Tries;
Jake Martin 3
Luke Sinclair
Gabriel Smakaj
Cons;
Jake Martin 1