Harpenden 32, Thurrock 24

ONCE again on Saturday (19 Februrary) Thurrock travelled to Redburn Place with a severely depleted team and produced what was arguably the performance of the season!

Harpenden is a famous old English club, more than 100 years old and counting Owen Farrell, George Ford and Maro Itoje among its alumni. It was also the club of legendary Welshman and rugby correspondent, Vivian Jenkins!

The modern group of players lie in fourth place in London One North and are an almighty force at home.The home team featured a father and son combination in the front five of Sean and Sam McLoughlin as well as England Counties player, Jimmy Spears.

Thurrock brought in Tom Saunders for his starting debut and a new midfield set-up of Niall Clifford, Kodie Holloway and Jonathan Davies' doppleganger, Joss Nunn. Harry Reynolds switched to full-back after some impressive performances on the wing, while Callum Pluck was a good teplacement for the absent through work Ahmed Aminou.

Thurrock played into the teeth of Storm Eunice in the first half and immediately fell behind to a simple try for winger Dave Chalkley, who cleverly converted his own score.

Harpenden used the wind prodigiously, often forcing Thurrock back 50 or 60 metres!

Dave Chalkley was having a "field day" or " an artificial grass day" as he accelerated on to a speculative kick from fly-half Louis Mann. Indeed a push-over try and another from close quarters pushed the Hertfordshire side into a 22-0 lead. However, the tide was ebbing a little and superb line-out work by Jay Jennings began to pay dividends as a fine run by Nunn set up a good field position. Thurrock were making huge inroads from rolling mauls and strong carrying from Elliot Keefe, Ant Catchpole, Jack Cowman, Frank Wright and Lawrence Brown. Skipper Charli Russo was, as ever, knocking down brick walls. Now with an imminent penalty, only a spilled pass kept out the Oakfielders. Then a quick heel from a scrum, gave Russo the chance to break wide. A brilliant switch to Holloway opened a yawning chasm and Holloway was able to send Lewis Cross in for Thurrock's first points.

Harpenden led by 22 points to 5 at what appeared an extraordinarily long first half!

Sadly for Thurrock, with Storm Eunice at their back, they still managed to concede a sloppy try at the start of the second half which probably lost them the game.

However, Thurrock came back even stronger. Some outstanding line-out play, particularly from Jennings, enabled Thurrock to get back into the match.

The experienced Jake Bedding came on at half-time and increased the tempo. Back to his very best, the scrum-half was imperious as he outwitted the home defence with his sharpness and speed. On a couple of occasions he was thwarted by the referee as he attempted to take quick ball from penalties. Not to be denied, a quick break was the catalyst to release the backs and Nunn arced outside the defence for the first of a brace of beautifully executed tries. Next the dose was repeated as co-centre Holloway swept through.

Now Thurrock were in the ascendancy as Harpenden were forced to fight for their lives.

With the home side down to 14, it looked odds on that Thurrock would get back on terms and, if the second half had ben as long as the first, a shock away victory seemed imminent.

Unfortunately the referee's memory was jogged by the vociferous home support and Thurrock's valiant effort was all in vain.

Nevertheless, this was a hugely encouraging performance and there were signs of this eminently youthful team growing in stature. It would be appropriate at this stage to remind them if the words of the irrepressible Dolly Parton: 2To get to the rainbow, you have to go through a hell of a lot of rain."