Horsham 17, Thurrock 46

AFTER an injury-depleted season Thurrock travelled to Coolhurst Lane in Horsham hoping to re-invigorate their season. Horsham have had an outstanding year, having won their previous six games and riding high in the table.

Furthermore,they had secured an away win at Oakfield in an earlier round taking all five points after a magical last two minutes when they scored two tries in injury time.

When Horsham charged into an early attack through captain Jamie Redmayne and fluent distribution from fly-half, Oli Chennell, things looked ominous for Thurrock.

This was only confirmed when after a series of drives Horsham were immediately on the scoreboard.

With Chennell missing the conversion, the away side managed to pick up momentum.This weekend saw the commencement of this year's Six Nations and it has not gone unnoticed that flanker Joss Nunn has a real alter ego in French captain Charles Ollivon.

And it was the Thurrock version who rampaged through the home side's defence. Thurrock now found a plentiful supply of ball from Loka and Nunn, whilst Cowman, Shorter and Carey were starting to dominate the scrums. After some outstanding phase play, the ball was moved to Kye Holloway and, like all good wingers, he tested his opposite number on the outside.

Accelerating off his side-step he scored in the corner. Henry Bird smashed over the long-range conversion and Thurrock were in the lead.

Unfortunately, outstanding utility player Rob Murphy was forced to leave the field with a head injury to be replaced by hooker, Dan Ulph. In spite of this set-back,the Thurrock squad have built a fine sense of espirit des corps and they came back strongly from this setback.

Fine distribution by Alex Jones and Dylan Fearon brought Niall Clifford thundering through the outside channel. Henry Bird flew through the gap before setting Dan Stone free on the outside. His scorching pace exposed the cover defence and a sharp side-step put him clear for a superb try.

Now it was all Thurrock and Horsham could do nothing to quell the tide that was rapidly enveloping them. After a series of drives in which it seemed as if everyone had handled, Ollivon's doppelganger got in on the act again. After a powerful driving maul, Joss Nunn broke free and, with his customary power and pace, burst through the defence for his twelfth try of the season.

Horsham were looking shell-shocked and whilst their coaches were imploring them to respond to the onslaught, the Thurrock onslaught gathered momentum. This was proving to be Thurrock's best performance of the season and,after a barnstorming charge from Dan Ulph, Jones and Fearon combined to send Stone scampering into the corner for his second try.

This was soon followed by a lively outside break from scrum-half Jake Bedding and "ever the poacher", Dan Stone picked up his hat-trick to the delight of the travellung supporters.

Horsham, who had just registered a victory over leading team, Medway, had no answer as the relentless tackling of Russo and his team left no leeway for the home side to exploit. With Charlie Currie entering the fray up front,and Anthony Catchpole and Jack Cowman continuing to excel, it was all one-way traffic and suddenly off the edge of a maul the effervescent Dan Carey shot through a gap like a startled racehorse to score a much deserved try.

Thurrock's forwards were now completely dominant and with Dritan Loka controlling the line-out and the front row in charge of scrummage time more scores seemed inevitable. Indeed it was Loka himself who was unstoppable close to the line and DanUlph who completed Thurrock's scoring.

With the job done, Thurrock were a little loose in the last exchanges. In spite of stern resistance by "finisher" Ben Stanley (making his first appearance of the season) Thurrock leaked a couple of late tries.

However, they were determined not to let Horsham gain a losing bonus point. In spite of an attempted first ever kick to touch by Dritan Loka (which won him the award of "Dunce of the decade", Horsham could not breach the stout Thurrock defence.

This had been Thurrock's best collective performance of the season and they now have a "juggernaut pack" which will take some stopping. Ally this to some skillful backs and you have a complete team which augurs well for the future. With an outstanding Colts team going from strength to strength, Head Coach,Martin Jones and his coaching staff can look forward to a bright future.