Thurrock 29, Chelmsford 22

There was a very large crowd at Oakfield on Saturday, 14 January, as old players and friends congregated to pay tribute to Thurrock legends Ian Corderoy and Charlie Putz. There was a period of applause from both teams and spectators paying their respects in the traditional manner.

It was to be hoped that the match would do justice to the occasion and both teams obliged with some fine rugby overlaid by a sharp competitive edge.

Thurrock had won the reverse fixture at Coronation Park by putting their bodies on the line in an outstanding defensive display. Now the home side went straight on to the offensive with a thrilling opening salvo.

A typically dominant tackle by Niall Clifford brought a turnover with Kodie Holloway and Lawrence Brown securing possession and when Henry Bird rampaged forward like a Pampas bull,there could only be one outcome! Rhys Cotter added the extras from close range for the perfect start.

Now Niall Clifford has picked up more than his fair share of "Man of the match " awards this season for his spectacular form,but it is all too easy to forget that he is a first class exponent of the essential basic skills,the nuts and bolts of rugby. There was no better example when he burst through a gap before straightening the line and sending Henry Bird through under the posts. Cotter once again extending the lead to 14 points.

Thurrock seemed unstoppable at this juncture,unleashing attack after attack! Wingers Kye Holloway and Harry Reynolds were switching wings to make extra numbers,but couldn't quite make the tryline. Rhys Cotter was drifting into the line, but a ball was dropped here and a pass misdirected there and, suddenly, Chelmsford came to life. Their captain Jamie Morrish started to attack from deep and wings,Jack Acorn and Jimmy Allway grew in confidence. Swift on the counter attack,they "Came down like a wolf on the fold", and,before Thurrock knew what was happening, had struck twice. Although the conversions were missed,the visitors went into the lead with a penalty. Furthermore, had it not been for the phenomenal last-ditch tackling of Rhys Cotter and Kye Holloway,the deficit would have been greater. One particular tackle by Cotter was of J.P.R. proportions, saving a certain try!

Bird, Clifford, and Dan Ulph joined skipper Ben Timson at the top of the tackle count, but the nimbler Chelmsford backs were taking the game to their opponents as the Oakfielders looked to the break to re-organise.

The Thurrock players were kept on the field as Martin Jones and Dave Stevens suggested tactical innovations to energise the team.

Over the generations, Thurrock have produced some outstanding lock forwards ,even going back as far as Norman Brown, Derek Saddington, Jumbo Kane, Jon Langley and John Magnurson. Some of these broke the mould in the sense that they were basketball players who were good with ball in hand and could throw a dummy and score the odd try. Since records have been kept in recent years, the top try scorers from lock are Aaron Woodward and James Flavin with seven in the season.

Currently, Thurrock have a plethora of second rows with exceptional potential in Caolan Watts-Adams,Jay Jennings and James Rodger. Add to that the sheer power and experience of Dritan Loka and you have the complete package!

The way forward in the second half was to deny Chelmsford possession and the locks would control that through their line-out prowess and presence "around the park!"

Additionally ,winning crucial line-outs against the throw and dominant tackles are their "stock in trade" They score tries as well" Currently Watts-Adams and Loka are vying on four in pursuit of the club record with the former crashing over to add to his brace at Norwich. Loka came close before Watts-Adams ran a beautiful line to burst through for what should have been his second try of the day,before being over-ruled by the referee!

In the meantime Dan Stone was putting in another cameo performance with some deft kicking off both feet in attack and defence. Although he missed a couple of difficult kicks in the swirling wind, he more than made amends with two delightful grubber kicks,the second of which was picked up by the ever-alert Clifford to accelerate through the defence and pummel his way over near the posts.

The front rowers,Tom Wileman,Aaron Antrobus,Frank Wright and Lawrence Brown were putting in another mighty shift as the game wore on and Chelmsford came back again.

Cotter was forced to kick a penalty to keep the gap to two scores,before both teams came head to head in a climactic finish.

At the close, Thurrock had just won this full-blooded encounter,going away with all five points. Chelmsford had been good value for their two bonus points and had played their part on this special day.

Thurrock had put out three teams and all had secured victories.

This week,the men travel to play the Honourable Artillery Company at Chiswick,while Thurrock Ladies play Richmond in a crucial Championship game at Oakfield.