Holt 24, Thurrock 32

THURROCK travelled to Bridge Road, Holt on Saturday at the northernmost extremity of Norfolk.

Holt are arguably the most successful team in England having gained two successive promotions.

Furthermore they are the only junior club providing two players for England's upcoming World Cup campaign in Freddie Steward and England's most capped player, Ben Youngs.

Indeed Holt boast fellow internationals Tom Youngs and father, Nick Youngs, among their alumni!

They are a well-supported club and on a glorious afternoon, a packed ground anticipated further success.

Thurrock had prepared well for this first obstacle with an even longer journey down to Abertillery, but their confidence was soaring after their superb victory in Wales.

As they arrived, they were greeted by a mural of Ben Youngs to commemorate his overtaking of Jason Leonard's England record.

With the vociferous bumper crowd thronging the touchline Thurrock entered the fray, welcoming back the outstanding Jake Bedding at scrum-half, Jamie Smith at full-back and Rob Murphy on the wing. Jay Jennings replaced James Rodger on his 21st birthday and Kye Holloway would prove an invaluable asset from the bench.

With their supporters imploring their team to attack, captain Thomas Jackson got his team off to the perfect start.

He sent a stream of passes into midfield and Melvyn Gilmout burst through to put Alistair Hughes through a gap. Jackson converted for Holt to make the first breakthrough.

There is no doubt that the trip to Wales has built bonds and Thurrock started to make inroads with some good carrying from props George Miles and non-Wales tourist, Tom Wileman.

With Blake Burns igniting the midfield and Jamie Smith settling nicely into the team it would only be a short hiatus before Henry Bird and Niall Clifford would begin to exert their influence. In harness with injury returnee Jamie Orr they started to wreak havoc in the vanguard of the Thurrock attack.

As the defence struggled to cope, it was Clifford on hand to open the visitors' account. Burns slotted the conversion, before giving the Oakfielders the lead with a penalty.

Now the match became frenetic as Holt started to chase the game. This only played into Thurrock hands as skipper Timson and Dan Ulph powered through. Lawrence Brown was his usual uncompromising self at the breakdown and was linking really well with Orr and Caolân Watts-Adams.

It was Jake Bedding who began to have a massive impact on the game with his generalship and game management. Two long distance sorties though led to his denouement. As he sprinted in pursuit of what would have been a brilliant try, this petit-caporal tweaked a hamstring, bringing Kye Holloway on as replacement.

Holloway is a bit like Shane Williams - a winger who could play scrum- half and what a job he did!

Bedding's run was not in vain as the splendid Rob Murphy was able to accelerate away to extend the lead. Burns converted to take the score to 7-17.

Enter centre stage, Thomas Jackson. With No.8 James Gosden starting to win more ball, Jackson started to command proceedings. His "siege-gun" kicking rifled the ball through the Norfolk Air as he spiralled his team into prime attacking space. A beautiful dummy and acceleration took him clear for a stunning solo effort and he almost transformed the game with his dynamism.

However, it was not to be as his opposite number, Ben Timson came up with a trademark try of his own.

Although Jackson reduced the arrears with a penalty again, HarryReynolds started to make real inroads with his power running and the introduction of Anthony Catchpole and the classy Kodie Holloway built momentum.

Henry Bird and Niall Clifford were magnificent and Kye Holloway looked " to the Manor born"!

In fairness, Holt fought back repeatedly and Thurrock could never quite "put them to bed." Not many teams will look forward to travelling to this northern fortress!

Harry Reynolds picked up his usual try and with Jay Jennings and Watts-Adams harnessing their mobility to their line-out dominance, a fine away performance was about to bear fruit.

" Man of the match", Jamie Orr threw a short dummy before the ubiquitous. Dan Ulph bagged all the points!

A breakaway try by Holt was no more than they deserved.

They had played their part in a pulsating game.

In the meantime, Thurrock had made the perfect start to their season, much to the delight of co-commentator, the effervescent wordsmith, Aaron Antrobus.

Next week Thurrock's journey is marginally shorter - away to newly promoted Saffron Walden