THURROCK RFC U16s got their league campaign off to a winning start at Thurrock's Oakfield on Sunday (12 September).

The ground at Oakfield looked in great shape after the summer's sometimes inclement weather.

Visitors, Harlow travelled to Thurrock with a strong squad of players and were all set for this Sunday morning U16 contest.

The initial exchanges went Thurrock's way with razor sharp back row forward Nathan Ray going over for try after a pick up from the five metre scrum, to give the home side an early 5-0

lead.

Harlow were quickly back on the attack and responded with not one but two tries to leave the score at 12-5 in favour of the visitors at the first half water break.

Harlow added a further three points from a successful penalty kick to create a ten point lead at the turnaround for the second half.

After half time, Thurrock prodded and probed and all their hard work with the fitness work in preseason seemed to be paying off. One Tees attack where the boys put the ball 'through the hands' along the back line and the ball went out wide for winger Tommy Wells to run in a glorious try to make it 10-15. This score spurred on the home side but the five point deficit remained in place to the second half water break.

The final quarter was all Thurrock with the U16s running rampant, first with captain Joe Reynolds bursting through to score a wonderful try which was duly converted.

Then Tees winger Zack de Breuk seemed to have scored one of his trade mark long range tries only for him to have stepped out of play, en route.

However, soon after, the other Tees flying winger Mitchell Lilley opened his lungs and stretched his running legs to take on his opponents and outran them to score a try which Jake Holding duly converted to make it 24-15.

Thurrock had well and truly shaken off that shaky start!

In the final stages, Harlow got a further try but Tees winger Lilley had the final say with a runaway try scored in the corner.

This initial win for the U16s was a great team effort and sets Tees up nicely for their forthcoming Sunday fixtures against Eton Manor and neighbours Upminster.