Brentwood 24, Thurrock 19

THURROCK travelled to King George V's playing fields at Brentwood on Saturday to face old rivals on the notorious sloping pitch. As usual it proved to be 'a game of two halves' with both wind and the gradient favouring the home team in the first half.

For Thurrock, Dritan Loka was making his 150th appearance while at the other end of the scale scrum-half Ben Shouksmith was making his Brentwood debut. Euan Thomas was making a welcome return to the Thurrock fold from injury and Dan Ulph was restored to his normal position of hooker.

Indeed, the revamped Thurrock XV started strongly with Alex Jones sniping down the blindside, only to be thwarted by a knock-on by the supporting players.

It wasn't long before the home team utilised the boot of flyhalf Jamie Cox who smashed a penalty deep into the corner which led to hooker Louis Payne guiding his pack over the line. James Killington and Dan Suttle were having a real contest in the lineout with Loka and Caolan Watts-Adams in an area where Thurrock had the added advantage of the splendid Jay Jennings.

Cox added a penalty to take the lead up to 10-0 before a speculative crossfield kick fell into the waiting arms of left-winger Issac Kilbrigie. Right-winger Charlie Wilkins got on to the scoreboard and with Cox adding a couple of conversions Brentwood moved into what looked like an unassailable lead of 24 points.

However, with the elements and the geography now firmly in their favour the Oakfielders were certain to have their purple patch.

Niall Clifford, Stuart McCloskey's alter ego, and Henry Bird started to put in some coruscating tackles on opposite numbers Fraser Parris and Alex Wilson.

With Thurrock now in the ascendancy and all the attention on Bird and Clifford, fly-half Dan Stone threw a dummy and flew through the gap created by Bird.

Stone converted his own try before the determined Bird, showing his normal physicality picked the perfect line to pile up the pressure on a wilting opposition.

The Thurrock pack began to gain the upper hand demonstrating their superiority through some outstanding scrummaging. The result was a succession of penalties which put the visitors into pole position to win the game. From yet another penalty the pack drove the Brentwood eight over their own line making Dan Ulph the happy beneficiary of a try which brought Thurrock within five.

Referee Chris Baxter penalised Thurrock at the breakdown giving Brentwood the opportunity of putting the seal on the game, but for once the exemplary Cox pushed the ball to the right of the uprights.

Thurrock came storming back determined to win the game and laid siege to the Brentwood line. It looked to all intents and purposes that Thurrock would get a deserved victory, but a series of misplaced passes and knock-ons meant they just fell short and Mr Baxter blew the final whistle to the considerable relief of the home fans.

There is little to choose between these two old rivals. Indeed, last season both games were won by the home team and it would be no surprise if this season brought the same end product.

Thurrock have shown good form over the last two months with results not always demonstrating overall improvements. Occasionally they are denied by misfortune and sometimes they are the architects of their own inadequacies through lack of confidence in their skillset.

With renewed confidence, respite from a long injury list and a modicum of good luck they will soon start to upset some of the League's frontrunners.

The Thurrock faithful can't wait!

This week Thurrock entertain old rivals Chingford at Oakfield. Kick-off is at 2pm.