Thurrock 26, Cheshunt 41

AFTER the euphoria of their opening day win at Harlow in the London & SE Division Regional 2 Anglia, Thurrock were brought down to earth with Saturday's (3 October) defeat at Oakfield by Cheshunt.

The scoreline ebbed and flowed through the match, with both sides trading blows, but in the end Thurrock seemed to run out of steam as the visitors kicked on in the closing stages – quite literally so as their final two matching tries came after chasing down balls that had been booted forwards.

Thurrock took the lead in the fourth minute when a piece of opportunism close to the visitors' try-line saw Cheshunt overthrow to a line-out and Borough seized possession, driving to the line with George Morgan picking up and driving over from close range. Jake Barrand's kick drifted wide to the right.

Cheshunt drew level when Peter Dodsworth raced three-quarters of the length of the pitch, shrugged off a despairing final tackle attempt and put the ball down between the posts, making it easy for Jordan to convert and give his side the lead.

George Morgan scores the game's opening try

Thurrock edged back in front on 17 minutes, spinning the ball along the line to Shayden Williams who raced in from out wide for a try on his debut. Barrand put the conversion between the posts for a 12-7 lead.

It lasted to the 27th minute when, from a line-out, Cheshunt pushed on with a driving maul and got the ball over amid a melee of players. The kick was missed to make it 12-12.

And from an almost identical position and another line-out, Cheshunt - who were down to 14 men at the time following a yellow card infringement by Dodsworth - restored their lead in the 39th minute with a break and dive from another rolling maul. The kick was missed again, making the score when the teams went in at half time 17-12 to Cheshunt.

The second half was just into its second minute when Ben Stanley rolled back the years, capping a driving run with a spectacular dive over the line. Barrand delivered a fine conversion to give Thurrock the lead.

It changed hands again five minutes later when Joshua Taylor played the final part in a pacy move along the line, juggling the ball before touching down to continue the trading of points. Two more were added from the conversion.

Kody Holloway made it 24-24 after a line-out and drive in the 58th minute and Barrand put Tees ahead once more with a superb conversion from wide out on the right.

However, that was to be as good as it got for the home side.

Barely a couple of minutes had passed before Cheshunt took the ball from the left of the Thurrock 22 to the right - then back again before Lewis Melton took advantage of the stretched Thurrock defence to run in unchallenged. The kick was missed.

A mistake from Shea Cotter who failed to deal with a kick through allowed Dodsworth the chance to score. Cotter argued he had been illegally pushed off the ball but it was the faintest of contacts before Dodsworth picked up and scored and his plea to the referee fell on deaf ears. Again the kick was missed but there was distance between the sides.

And the gap was stretched further with 39 minutes of elapsed time in the half on the clock when another kick forward stretched the tired home defence and the ball was touched down between the posts which allowed Cheshunt to complete the afternoon's scoring with an easy conversion.

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Thurrock will look to respond positively this weekend when they make the trip to Barnard Fields to face Norfolk rivals Wymondham who, like Tees, have won one, lost one in the early stages of the season.

You can watch the match in Norfolk on livestream via this link.

Other borough news, fixtures and tables:

Stanford-le-Hope, who started their London & SE Division Counties 1 Essex campaign with an emphatic win at Old Brentwoods, also came back to earth with a bump on home soil when they were beaten 47-20 by Eton Manor Seconds.

It was a hard-fought encounter enjoyed by both sides. afterwards a Stanford spokesperson said: "We gave it our all in a very tough, competitive fixture. Despite missing out on the win, the team noted there were plenty of tactical lessons to draw from the performance as they regroup for the rest of the campaign."

The Redmen will hope to bounce back this coming weekend (Saturday, 10 October) when they are again at the Rec, renewing rivalries with close neighbours Billericay.

Thurrock Seconds enjoyed a crushing win in their Group 1 Automotive Essex Merit League Division One clash with neighbours Pegasus Palmerians, at Oakfield.

The hosts won 40-5 and now sit top of the table with two wins from two. Thurrock next play in the league on Saturday, 26 October when they go to Romford & Gidea Park Seconds

It was Pegs' first encounter of the season and they will hope to bounce back in their second match at home to Barking next weekend (Saturday, 17 October).

In the same division Thames went down 26-12 in their match at Bancroft. Thames' home campaign at Garron Lane, South Ockendon, begins on Saturday, 17 October when they will host Romford & Gidea Park Seconds.

Following a defeat in their first outing at Bath in September, Thurrock T-Birds face another challenge on Sunday (11 October) when they play host to reigning champions Richmond, kick-off 2pm.

You can watch the match from Oakfield on livestream via this link.