Thurrock 28, Sutton & Epsom 53

THURRICK were quick out of the traps in Saturday's (1 March) London & SE Division Regional 2 South East clash and quickly posted the game's first try through Caolan Watts-Adams who caught a high, looping short pass and crossed the line from close in. The conversion by Henry Bird took the lead to 7-0 after three minutes.

Sutton responded with lots of pressure and within five minutes were on level terms with a converted try under the posts after the ball was juggled along their backs. A Sutton penalty took the score to 10-7. And the visitors extended the lead with an unconverted try out wide from a cross kick.

Around the half hour Thurrock got right back in it when Josh Buller dived over close to the posts, leaving a simple kick for Bird to make it 15-14.

In not dissimilar fashion Sutton extended their lead just before the break and the conversion made it 22-14 as the sides went in at half time.  

Soon after the restart Sutton crossed again with an effective catch and drive following a line-out on the right. The conversion was missed.

Thurrock were resilient though and soon after Bird took the ball at pace and surged over the line, converting his own kick to reduce the deficit to six.

But there was barely time to celebrate before Sam Lennie ended a speedy Sutton incursion with another try beneath the posts.

It was converted but Thurrock were not done and Buller capped a probing move down their opponents left with another try. The conversion was from wide out but Bird nailed it.

However, that was as good as it was to get for Tees as Harry Reynolds was given a yellow card for a late tackle, though it may have been an injudicious decision by the referee as the tackle was actually made by Niall Clifford.  

Almost immediately Sutton took advantage of the extra man to score wide on the left, though it was not converted. Shortly afterwards, they scored again, in almost the same spot, after a tap and go and this time the kick was goo to make the score 46-28.

Thurrock battled hard and there was no sense of giving in but they were to ship another try in the most unfortunate of circumstances when Elliot Chew picked the ball up, was tackled and tried an adventurous looping pass back over his head but his opposing number Steve Munford spotted the opportunity, racing past from a just onside position and picking the ball out of the air to race through unopposed for a final try under the posts, which was converted to leave a final score that was a little unfair on the hosts but showed that taking chances when they arise is what it's all about.

Sutton were clinical close to the Thurrock line and that was the ultimate difference between the teams in a nevertheless highly entertaining match, which you can watch in full via this link.

Thurrock are back in action at Oakfield next Saturday when sixth-placed Reeds Weybridge are the visitors.