Thurrock 29, Chelmsford 17

SUNDAY (3 October) at Oakfield saw a rousing display from Tees U16s in the first round of the Essex Cup. Right from the start, Thurrock were on the attack, winning a penalty as the visitors, Chelmsford were struggling to contain the homeside. Ethan Cook duly converted 3-0.

Tees continued their excellent start as Cook at 9 and Holding at 10 kept moving the ball wide along the line via centres Overy and Captain Reynolds to Tees try talisman, winger Lilley to go over for a try in the corner 8-0.

The large Oakfield crowd were in for a rugby treat on pitch one on a beautiful Sunday morning.

However, Chelmsford, did not come all the way to Thurrock for an Essex Cup match to observe and admire the undoubted talents of these young Tees and the visitors responded promptly with a fine try, 8-5 and only ten minutes into this high paced Essex cup tie.

The next ten minutes were a battle of strength and wills between both forward packs until the twentieth minute, when catching a flat Chelmsford defence, Fly half Holding worked the ball along his defensive line, he double looped to receive and released Tees winger Mayanja to score Thurrock's second try, 15-5, after Cook converted.

The indomitable spirit shown by the visitors continued and the pulled Thurrock back with another try 15-10 before Tees scored a try for the forwards when Nico Martorana picked and drove over in front of the posts to leave Cook with a straight forward kicked conversion 22 – 10 at half time.

The second half was less frantic, but, nonetheless very entertaining. Recently returned to playing, speed star, Abou Diakite scored a wonderful individual try for the homeside and Holding duly converted Diakite's try to leave the score 29 -10 with twenty minutes still remaining.

Tees u16 management will probably remind the boys in training this week that there may have been one or two more tries out there in the second half but that's the joy of sport, full of opportunities and missed chances. Chelmsford did manage another try and conversion just before the end to make the final score in this Essex Cup tie 29-17.

On the day, there were many impressive performances for the home side but Alex Mincu took the 'man of the match' honours. Sterling stuff from Alex at second row in the first half and as front row prop in the second. A young man with a big future in the game!