Thurrock 17, Shelford 29

THURROCK really needed to find some inspiration in this injury-ravaged season and, on Saturday, it came from an unexpected source.

With the absence of regulars, Dan Stone and Lewis Cross as well as Kye Holloway moving to the centre, Martin Jones was forced to give a home debut to Harry Reynolds and bring back Ahmed Aminou from injury. He was not to be disappointed and, indeed, all the youngsters impressed, with the Oakfielders deserving a major upset against second placed Shelford.

The Cambridge-based team were without influential fly- half, Tom James and lost captain Charlie Baker early on. Nevertheless, they were not expecting this tremendous effort from a youthful Thurrock outfit that all but pulled off the result of the season.

There is no doubt that Thurrock have upset the gods this season.

With the injury list growing daily, poor Jake Bedding was forced to delay his long-awaited comeback by pulling a muscle in the warm up, with Callum Pluck being plucked from the second team pitch. Although it was a great fillip to see three teams at home, seeing players having to change horses at the last minute doesn't promote cohesion!

Amazingly, from the outset, Thurrock tore into the, opposition and set up a wave of attacks. Captain Charlie Russo and former William Edwards team- mate, Ben Timson were sensational alongside, Caolan Watts-Adams in the back row and it was the junior member of that triumvirate who broke the deadlock with his third charge down in as many weeks.

Blocking Gould's attempted clearance, the converted winger gave a distinguished impression of Gethin Jenkins as he scored a delightful try. Henry Bird just missed the conversion, but this was a deserved lead.

There was more to follow. Aminou was looking dangerous as well as putting in some heavy- duty defensive work. When Niall Clifford ran a hard line, he delivered an opportunity for Aminou to make an incision on the right hand side of the pitch. As the ball was re-cycled some great carrying from Jay Jennings, Watts-Adams and Tom Wileman fragmented the defence. Dritan Loka found himself free to feed debutant Reynolds on the left wing. This young man has fine cadence and he streaked on the outside to scorch in at the corner. Thurrock were completely in control of territory and tempo.

Unfortunately a series of penalties were to turn the tide. Winger Louie Tang was causing problems and Shelford got back into the game when they were awarded a penalty try and Reynolds was consigned to the bin for ten minutes. Still Thurrock took the game to their opponents with some storming runs from Frank Wright, Jack Cowman, Jennings and the irrepressible Henry Bird. The centre is unyielding in all that he does, whether running hard lines or banging in coruscating tackles. Holloway's meandering side-stepping is starting to mesmerise defences, whether from the wing or outside centre.

Ben Timson and Charlie Russo were outstanding in every facet, their ubiquity and leadership of enormous consequence. Alex Jones, performing boldly at 10 was forging a good understanding at half-back with Ed Stevens and both performed with courage throughout.

The second half saw Ryan Wilkins restored to the colours and his accurate throwing and speed around the pitch proved invaluable as did Callum Pluck and Kole Awisoka when called to action.

The second half began as the first, with Thurrock in control of possession and territory. A couple of missed touches let Shelford off the hook and, just as a score looked inevitable, the referee awarded a penalty and a yellow card, but no penalty try! This seemed a trifle inconsistent, he said euphemistically!

The Oakfielders were treated to a cornucopia of compensatory penalties and possibly, in hindsight, should have built their score. Instead opportunities were not converted until the splendidly cramped Niall Clifford took up a great position, threw a dummy and muscled through the Shelford defence. With the score at 24-17, Thurrock continued to press.

The performance punctuated by humour as giant lock, Tani Loka attempted a kick ahead as the Shelford defence waited in trepidation. I suspect, Tani fancies himself as a latter day John Eales, the great Australian captain was known as "Nobody" because "Nobody is perfect." Tani's "curate's egg" of a performance certainly lightened the day with memories of Horsham a couple of years ago!

Just as it seemed as if Thurrock would go on to get their just desserts Shelford broke out with their reserve scrum-half making the break to send Louie Tang in to deprive Thurrock of even a bonus point. A shame for the home side, who deserved far more from this courageous performance!

This week, Thurrock travel to face the famous Haberdashers.