Thurrock 27, Harpenden 25

WATCHING Thurrock RFC these days is like watching a film where you know exactly how events will unfold. Every week they seem beleaguered by injuries and unavailabilities. They fall behind, come back strongly, but just fall short of converting the pressure into victory.

It's the same old script with an ever changing cast! There will be no dramatic twist at the end! Thurrock still lose!

The week had started with Director of Rugby, Martin Jones imploring his team to display more courage and belief, become better finishers by seizing opportunities and it certainly seemed as if his words had been needed as the home side started with physicality and determination, but still conceded the first try when the defence was easily outflanked.

As Anthony Pease suggested, the conversion wouldn't have succeeded if it had been a par two.

With Joss Nunn, Dritan Loka and Caolan Watts-Adams beginning to dominate the line-outs, a plethora of good ball, saw Rob Murphy demonstrate his fine footwork to wrong foot the Harpenden defence a la Ray Page, to open Thurrock's account. Matt Siddle slotted the conversion to put the Oakfielders into the lead.

Owen Taylor was showing up well in the counter-attack to demonstrate a fine versatility in the absence of Niall Clifford, nursing a heel injury.

Nevertheless, the high -flying Harpenden broke away to manufacture a clear overlap, only for Jack Pennell to throw a forward pass when a try seemed inevitable. Full back, Luke Backer was making serious inroads into the Thurrock half, before Owen Taylor made a decisive incursion into the line to send the returning Callum Pluck in for an excellent riposte.

At this stage, Ed Stevens was beginning to show the cussedness which makes him a favourite of his teammates, but which sometimes irritates opponents. Then ,just as Thurrock seemed in control, an innocuous looking scrum turned into disaster as the ball was dropped and fell into the hands of Harpenden's open-side who accepted the gift with glee to score the simplest of tries. The proximity to the posts served only to compound the unfortunate error.

This serendipitous episode was soon exploited at the beginning of the second half as Harpenden took full advantage of Rob Murphy's injury to make headway down the right wing. Some exquisite inter-passing brought a terrific score.

Rob Murphy went off for repairs to be replaced by the evergreen, Ben Stanley. Lawrence Brown and Frank Wright were prominent in the loose and Ben Timson and Charlie Russo were carrying hard. Ant Catchpole was leading from the front, with scrum-half Alex Jones throwing out a variety of passes and instructions!

Jimmy Spears was prominent in attack for the visitors and it looked as if the dye was cast as we entered a fallow period where the scoreboard was untroubled. A charge-down by Watts-Adams almost paid dividends, before a beautifully delayed pass allowed Owen Taylor to accelerate through a gap, which brought a try from the mighty Henry Bird. The conversion meant a 20-17 lead.

A series of penalties left Thurrock isolated deep in their own territory where only a magnificent rearguard action from Joss Nunn kept the hosts' line intact. Just when it seemed as if the danger had been averted, the Harpenden fly- half scuttled through a key-hole and in spite of Ben Stanley's best endeavours, scored a converted try which meant that once again Thurrock went into the final quarter in arrears.

A yellow card for Edd Stevens exacerbated the situation, but was negated by Spears getting the same punishment, leading to a thrilling finale. A sweeping attack led to a three to one overlap which was completely "butchered".

With the usual conclusion in sight, a marvellous sequence of defensive tackles brought a chunk of light via a penalty. .Joss Nunn tapped and went, but momentarily lost control of the ball. As the crowd gasped, he regathered and made strong progress. The visitors had encroached within ten metres and from the resultant penalty, Alex Jones found a good touch. Jay Jennings sprang for a superb line-out take, with Jack Cowman in support. This time Thurrock were sublime in their patience and drove hard left and right. Then a great line saw Rob Murphy slice through the defence for the equalising try.

Now for "the sting in the tail" and the deviation from the usual outcome! Henry Bird set up for the decisive conversion, but a maniacal shout from a charging defender put off the kicker. The referee saw this as an act of "ungentlemanly conduct" and ordered the kick to be retaken! Up stepped the phlegmatic Ben Stanley to smash over the conversion and seal a deserved victory. Perhaps the tide has turned?

This week, Thurrock travel to Colchester.