Brentwood 61, Thurrock 19

SATURDAY'S (2 March) fixture was scheduled for Brentwood, but hastily rearranged at Oakfield.

With eight or nine regulars missing including key leaders, Niall Clifford and Ben Timson, Thurrock struggled with the conditions.

The fact that there were so many new combinations meant there was very little cohesion or enterprise from the home team.

Even though Thurrock had overturned their local rivals earlier in the season, this was a game they will want to forget.

Tiernan Mayes and fly-half,Jamie Cox had a field-day, surging through gaps, with Cox's kicking immaculate on an exposed wintry landscape.

In fairness, Thurrock never gave up on the struggle and, early in the second half, staged a come back with Caolan Watts-Adams, Anthony Catchpole and Henry Bird adding to their season's tally. Alex Jones weighed in with a fine rearguard action and a couple of conversions.

Full marks to the Thurrock groundstaff for preparing a pitch to enable the game to go ahead, but there were several frustrated players and fans who probably wish they had failed!