THE three borough sides in action this afternoon (Saturday, 24 October) all recorded victories.

Bury St Edmunds Wolfhounds 29, Thurrock 31

THURROCK'S exciting, high-scoring London & SE Regional 2 Anglia campaign continued with an astonishing comeback win, sealed with a long-range penalty from Jake Barrand with the last kick of the match.

Such an outcome seemed highly unlikely as the hosts pegged Thurrock back through the opening exchanges.

William McGrath opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a try after bursting through the Thurrock back line and twisting his body to get the ball down when tackled. The conversion was missed but Bury increased the score with a surge through the middle by their forwards which saw the ball popped down between the posts by Antoine Berthillot and Jack Bowyer popped over the extras.

In the 28^th minute the lead was stretched with a free-flowing three-quarter move by Wolfhounds that was finished off with in inside curt and run for the whitewash by Preston Macfarlane who touched down to offer Bowyer another easy kick, which he accepted.

At that point, few would have given Thurrock much hope but despite their youth and inexperience in many positions, what Thurrock don't lack is heart and they took the game to Bury, who saw McGrath get a yellow card as they tied to stem another visitors' surge.

From the ensuing penalty Thurrock kicked for touch and from the resultant line-out Ben Gorbutt seized the ball and raced in. Barrand converted.

Ben Gorbutt seized the ball and raced in for Thurrock's opener.

In the second half another try from Gorbutt, one from Harry Reynolds and a penalty try with Barrand's conversions got the visitors on level terms.

And the reward for Thurrock's resilience came in the closing moments when they were awarded a penalty near the halfway line and Barrand stepped up to slot it home and secure a memorable victory.

There was joy back in the borough for Tees' neighbours Stanford-le-Hope who continued their impressive start to the London & SE Counties 1 Essex campaign with a 36-7 home win against bottom club Chingford.

And celebration was the order of the day for followers of South Ockendon-based Thames RFC who enjoyed their first win of the season with a 34-31 win at Millwall Seconds in the Group 1 Automotive Essex Merit League Division 1 .

Thurrock Seconds were due to visit Romford & Gidea Parks Second in the same division today but the borough side were unable to fulfil the fixture due to the injury pressures on the first team men's squads and the match has been rescheduled for 28 November.