Thurrock 28, Belsize Park 17

THURROCK continued on their best run of the season as they defeated Belsize Park at Oakfield on Saturday (2 April).

Belsize Park are one of the world's oldest teamsand, indeed, one of the founder members of the Rugby Union. They emanate from Regents Park and are famed as a touring side with many an International guesting for the team.

Belsize turned up on Saturday looking to complete the double, but this is a much mure confident Thurrock team nowadays which is maturing into a highly skilled and motivated team. Director of Rugby, Martin Jones has long asked for patience as he built the pathways to success and that is now bearing fruit!

On a cold Spring afternoon, it was "first blood" to the home side as skipper, Charlie Russo, elected to build a lead and the ever reliable Tom Worsfold kicked a couple of long-range penalties much to the delight of his father, Thurrock and Saracens great, Peter, who was present at the game.

Thurrock then put together a succession of phases with fine handling from Jay Jennings, Kodie Holloway and half of the pack, before the three -quarters slickly put Callum Pluck away for a fine winger's score.Worsfold converted and a 13-0 lead was established.

The versatile Rob Murphy had been drafted in to full- back and his incursions into the line were paying dividends. Moreover, a try-saving tackle on wing Jason Harris was monumental.

Inevitably, Belsize would get into the match and their locks were showing great athleticism and Frenchman Boulan was the beneficiary of a driving maul.

Worsfold had been pressed into duty at scrum- half and Niall Clifford, Henry Bird and Joss Nunn were proving nigh on unstoppable as the midfield went in to overdrive.

After a brace of penalties, Belsize came back into the game after a couple of yellow cards enabled wing Harris to "find an edge" and he powered over. Fairbank was unable to provide the extras, but the Regents Park outfit were threatening a comeback!

Enter the fray the genius of Joss Nunn. This is some unique player. Possessing ourstanding all -round skills, Joss is a recent convert to the centre, where he has been helped by another Thurrock legend, Ray Davies.

It seemed as if he had played there all his life as he took up a great position and accelerated through the gears and split the opposition ranks for a memorable solo effort.

This was followed by another brilluant try for that arch poacher, Ben Timson as he seized on a mistake to put the game out of sight.

Yes, Thurrock have a superb set of young players like Lawrence Brown, Frank Wright, Jack Cowman and Kodie Holloway coming through the ranks alongside Caolan Watts-Adams and Jay Jennings, but players of the ilk of Timson, Russo and Loka are rising to the challenge and all of this points to an exciting future!