Reeds Weybridge 34, Thurrock 24

ANOTHER weekend, another defeat for Thurrock Firsts who continue to seek a first London & SE Division Regional 2 South East win of the season after Saturday's (30 November) trip to Walton On Thames.

However, although Thurrock are propping up the bottom of the table, they came mighty close to clocking up a surprise win against Reeds Weybridge.

Thurrock were big, strong, and mobile and their forwards had much the best of territory in the early exchanges.

Within the first minute, Reeds made a hash of the kick off collection by trying to go through too many phases, the visitors, down the hill, secured a turnover kicked to the corner, won the ball from a five-metre lineout, and Tees number 8 Jay Jennings took a pass to hammer over the line for a converted try.

When a side is locked into defensive mode within their own red zone, there seems to be an inevitability that they will stray offside or commit some offence at the breakdown, Reeds did get pinged and it cost them another three points. That penalty count against them, throughout the game was a problem for Reeds and it cost them territory and continuity.

Reeds just couldn't get their hands on the ball, and it was young Caolan Watts-Adams, the Thurrock centre, who found space out wide and beat the cover to the try line to march the visitors into a seventeen-point lead during the first quarter.

While Reeds have their problems with the penalty count, they have the resolve and the ability to bounce back from some difficult situations. None better at that than their indomitable skipper Herbie Finn, the second row forward, he collected possession from a move within the Thurrock twenty-two and drove over the line from out wide for an unconverted try – 5 -17.

It was some individual brilliance that initiated Reeds' second try of the day. Which started within Reeds 22 from a'' free play'' that saw Pete Cole deftly chip the ball cross field for winger Nick Brown to pluck out of the sky at full pelt, offload to Matt Stevenson who made ground, who in turn passed to back row forward Joe Wastie to touch down under the sticks.

Reeds were back in the game but still five points adrift at 12 – 17. Not for long, Reeds backs were beginning to find gaps in the Thurrock defence and another neat cross field kick this time from Josh Clark again saw Nick Brown collect the ball offload to Pete Cole to touch down for Reeds third try. This was soon followed by Jack Jesty collecting a three pointer just before the break to make it 22 -17.

Now Reeds had the slope in their favour, but it was the visitors who took up residence in Reeds territory, those big Thurrock forwards hammered away at the Reeds defence and finally young Watts-Adams found a gap through Reeds midfield rush defence to put Thurrock into a two-point lead.

They could have stretched the lead even further when they forced a five-metre lineout, but made a mess of the throw and Reeds won the subsequent scrum and drove play downfield.

Perhaps Reeds with the younger side, together with their determination and fitness were crucial factors in that last quarter.

They spun the ball out wide to Nick Brown the winger, he knew he was going to get hammered by the covering defence, but just managed to touch down by the flag for a five pointer. Reeds had a tenuous three-point lead at 27 – 24 and the game could have gone either way.

In those last tense moments, Reeds set up camp in the Thurrock twenty-two and it was Marcus Clark who saw Reeds home when he just managed to touch the ball down before he was shunted into touch to conclude proceedings at 34 – 24.

Hope springs eternal for Thurrock after such an encouraging performance and they will need to repeat it next Saturday (7 December) when second-placed Beckenham arrive at Oakfield.