Woodford 33, Thurrock 48

THURROCK visited Woodford on Saturday hoping to avenge the early season reversal against their East London rivals.

To add spice to the occasion, ex-Thurrock Second Row, Ross Boshier is now Woodford's Director of Rugby and he was hoping to coach his team to the "double".

This new division has resurrected some historical local derbies and this game was to offer fine fare to the neutrals watching the game live.

Both teams had pulled off dramatic victories over the last few weeks and particularly impressive was Woodford's triumph over Southend.

It was particularly pleasing to see Anthony Catchpole starting after such a long injury lay-off and rewarding to witness the debut of the impressively-built Harry Clarke.

Thurrock were the quicker to measure the necessity for a quick tempo and launched a series of attacks.

Dan Stone drove a penalty into the Woodford corner and, with pinpoint accuracy, Lawrence Brown hit the target before latching on to the forward drive. This added the velocity which propelled the pack towards Woodford's line and a much-deserved try for this popular hooker. Rhys Cotter added the extras.

From the restart a dropped ball allowed Woodford to set up a series of offensives. Daniel Fox fed Jim White and the fly-half was able to ghost through the defence after a deft dummy. White then converted his own try to level at 7-7.

Thurrock went straight back and a fine break by Rob Murphy was continued by Dritan Loka before the supporting Alex Jones was just stopped short. After a hand-off of John Devereuxesque proportions, Henry Bird shunted back his opposite number at a rate of knots. Lawrence Brown, in close attendance, set up Aaron Antrobus for an all-action try. Cotter converted to take the score up to 14-7.

The home side then settled into a period of possession and territory with No.8 Jake Herga leading the charge. At this stage Loka, Dan Ulph and Rhys Cotter made try-saving tackles to keep Woodford at bay.

Just as it seemed the siege would be lifted, an attempted interception was deemed to be deliberate and the referee awarded a double amercement with a penalty try and a yellow card. Suddenly Woodford had levelled the scores and were a man to the good!

Nevertheless, this double jeopardy served only to increase Thurrock's obduracy. After a powerful gallop by the consistent Jay Jennings and clever positional kicking by the mis-identified Dan Stone, Lawrence Brown was just denied.

Still down to 14 men, the visitors conjured up a piece of magic as Harry Reynolds swept through a gap created by a lovely inside pass a la Finley Bealham. A last ditch tackle prevented a Hugo Keenan alter ego of a try, but Reynolds extricated himself from the ruck and, when the ball was recycled, he found himself in position to round off an exquisite piece of play!

Woodford were striving to keep a foothold in the game, but were incurring the wrath of the referee and Dan Stone added to the frustration with some lengthy touch finders. From one of these the effervescent Anthony Catchpole found himself being shunted over the line for a popular try.

Dave Stevens decided to ring the changes and brought on Clarke for his debut and he soon made his mark with some impressive scrummaging and a blind pass that Alex Jones would have been proud of.

Amazingly, Woodford fought back and astute kicking by Jim White gave his team an opportunity to claw back the deficit and tight-head William Cooper-Rendu barrelled his way over to re-ignite the contest.

This Thurrock relishes a challenge and the ever-impressive, Caolan Watts-Adams lacerated the defence in his personal duel with Tani Loka which seems set to go down to the wire!

Captain Ben Timson is having a magnificent season and he ended up on the end of a free- flowing move, his poacher's instinct holding sway over a wake of vultures

Sound defence from Rob Murphy Niall Clifford, skipper, Ben Timson and Henry Bird repelled a series of Woodford attacks before Ed Stevens came on to add impetus. Callum Pluck had almost the shortest cameo on record before an unfortunate replacement was made.

None of this seemed to deter the Oakfielders as Rhys Cotter sliced through the line , jousting with defenders like an Olympic swordsman!

Quick presentation and a superb miss pass from Dan Stone sent Harry Reynolds weaving inside and out for another eye-catching score. Rhys Cotter hit a first-class conversion from wide-out, giving the ball a higher trajectory.

The splendid Niall Clifford now got in on the act. Receiving quick ball, he arced through the outside channel in the classic manner of the recently departed David Duckham . Rhys Cotter smashed the conversion into an unprepared post

This had taken Thurrock into a 48-19 lead, but if you thought that Woodford were about to throw in the towel, you would be mistaken!

From a town where Winston Churchill had been the MP there would be no surrender, as you might suspect.

Although Ross Boshier would have been disappointed by the result, the manner in which his charges competed until the final whistle was exemplary. They scored two converted tries in a grandstand finish and had played their part in this highly entertaining battle.

There had been no sabre-rattling, no truculence in a true sporting encounter with Thurrock continuing their outstanding form and remaining unbeaten in 2023 .

Thurrock have climbed to fifth place and Director of Rugby Martin Jones, must be delighted with the progress made by his young team.

However, he and his coaches are aware that the real litmus test lies ahead with the last three League games being against top rivals Southend, Brentwood and table- toppers, Letchworth Garden City.

All rugby players are highly competitive by nature and this Thurrock team is relishing the challenge!