IT proved to be a very disappointing weekend for Thurrock RFC's two first teams.

The mens' firsts, who have yet to record a win this season, travelled optimistically to Horn Park in South London to face bottom club Old Colfeians - who were also winless.

However, at the end of the afternoon Thurrock had swapped places and now site bottom of London and South East Regional Two South East Division after a chastening 37-3 defeat.

At the start of the season there was an upbeat sense about the coming campaign, albeit having been switched to the southern area division where historically Thurrock have not prospered.

History now seems to be repeating itself as Tees are struggling, with the gulf in experience from some of their younger players being exposed.

They will go again next weekend with a home clash against Old Reigatian who travel to Oakfield with three wins under their belt from five outings.

And things didn't go any better for T-Birds firsts today (13 October) when they were comprehensively beaten 48-5 at Championship South leaders Richmond in a match that wasn't without some controversial decisions.

T-Birds held their own for 16 minutes, despite being on the end of some contentious refereeing decisions by Lee Williamson who seemed content to allow a number of high tackles from the home side to go unpunished, and then he penalised Thurrock for the same offence, when to all concerned the infringement looked to have been the other way around. From the subsequently penalty Richmond ran the ball wide and went over for their first try.

The try wasn't concverted but a second one, soon after was to give the hosts a 12-0 lead.

Richmond had a grip on the match by then and much of it was played out in Thurrock's half but they held firm until just before the break when the referee again disappoint travelling supporters with a penalty decision that Richmond converted to go in at the break 22-0 ahead,

The lead was extended with another try in the early stages of the second half and then the ref intervened again to give scrum half Faye Cocks ten minutes for a high tackle, when her arm barely went above the elbow of her opponent.

Richmond took full advantage, powering on into a 34-0 lead and then Mr Williamson made the worst of several decisions, doing nothing when captain Hannah Thornhill was flattened by an arm and boot off the ball as she chased through following her own kick and run! The incident was decribed as 'barbaric' by the match commentator, but to their credit the T-Birds kept their calm on the pitch.

Faye Cocks returned from her ten minutes and for a spell Thurrock dominated play. But Richmond weathered the pressure and on a break ran in another try that was converetd for 41-0.

Thurrock then got their consolation try when Thornhill chased down an incisive grubber kick from Jade Wong.

There was still time for Richmond to add a final try in the final from Bluebell Nicholls, which was converted by impressive kicker Emma Munday and the hosts were home and hosed.

You can watch the match via the link below:

It was always likely to be a season of transition for the T-Birds and the crushing 48-5 defeat at the hands of a team they have so often dominated highlights the size of the journey ahead.

Last season, in winning the championship and going on to a Twickenham play-off final, T-Birds lost just twice, in 18 matches. So far this season, three out of four outings have already ended in defeat.

The ladies are back in action with another away trip, to Old Albanian Saints on Sunday, 3 November.