Tees up to second as they put Mavericks to the sword. Second home defeat for Stanford
By Nub News Reporter 5th Oct 2025
Mavericks 15, Thurrock 57
SATURDAY (4 October) proved a good day for Thurrock RFC with the first team enjoying a convincing victory in Brentwood – while the seconds also won away and took the points scored by the club in one afternoon to more than a hundred.
The firsts Against Mavericks at Warley Playing Fields the firsts took an early lead when Ahmed Aminu went over from close range with a weaving run after a quickly taken tap penalty. Grant Scott converted.
And a second try out wide followed from the same player after a long pass across the backs stretched the home defence on 11 minutes, but the strong winds saw the conversion attempt missed.
The lead was extended in the 18th minute with another try out wide, this time from Jake Jones who took the ball and dived over.
Mavericks responded with a try just before the half hour when a mistake allowed the hosts to turn defence into attack as they broke free and outpaced the stranded home defence. The conversion was missed.
With the clock ticking towards 40 minutes it was then Thurrock's turn to counter-attack and captain Kodie Holloway was untouchable as he raced through the Mavericks backs and ran three-quarters of the length of the pitch, diving over close to the posts to set up a conversion by Scott that left the score 24-5 at half time.
Less than a minute of the second half had passed before the lead was extended again, with Nathanial Farell showing his pace and ability to jink past players to go over under the sticks, allowing Scott to add two more.
Within a couple of minutes Farrell crossed again, this time after Thurrock turned over possession thanks to a momentous clear-out by Holloway. The conversion was missed and as the players returned to the halfway line for the restart Holloway paid the penalty for his efforts, going off after picking up an injury.
The onslaught continued from a superbly executed line out and flowing move that led to Ross O'Brien going over, and Scott added the extras. Almost immediately Thurrock attacked again and once again they proved too fast for the Mavericks defence with replacement Euan Thomas racing though to score, Scott again converting.
After a period of resilience from Mavericks, another line-out move was completed swiftly and the ball fed to Thomas who stretched his legs to run through and dive under the posts to complete his brace of tries. Another Scott conversion took Thurrock's tally to 57.
In the closing stages Mavericks exerted some pressure, leading to a yellow card for Thurrock's Sam Jennings, and the extra man proved advantageous as the hosts grabbed two late consolation tries, both of which were unconverted.
Watch the match in full via this link.
The win lifted Thurrock to second place in the table. They will be in action again next weekend, at home to Billericay.
A good day for the men was completed by the seconds, who won 49-7 at Romford and Gidea Park.
On Sunday, the T-Birds will be hoping to mirror that success with a win at Sutton and Epsom.
Stanford-le-Hope 22, Epping Upper Clapton 34
BACK in Thurrock, Stanford-le-Hope continued their journey in the Counties One Division, going down to Epping Upper Clapton at the Rec.
It was a second home league defeat for last season's Counties 2 champions, who were hoping to build on their last outing on 13 September when three penalties from Dominic McDonald gave them a 9-7 win at Billericay.
Next weekend Stanford travel to East London, who sit just above them in the fledgling league table.
Share:
