Thurrock 57, Harlow 3
THURROCK produced some scintillating rugby to record a fine win. The writing was on the wall for the visitors from as early as the fifth minute when Darryl Worster’s finely timed run saw him burst through to score.
Aaron Burns added the conversion. Dan Carey quickly added another try, finishing off some fine probing forward surges, and scoring in the corner. Burns was just wide with his conversion effort. Harlow then added a penalty from the boot of Dobson, but that turned out to be their only success of the afternoon.
The Thurrock players were starting to enjoy themselves, no more than prop Stefan North who made 3 or 4 rampaging runs, creating quick ball for the backs. It was from one his runs that Bradleigh Retigan got his name on the score sheet, when the home side’s backs began to use the space created, with some fine inter passing, allowing the Thurrock No 8 to score. Burns added the conversion. Worster then added his second, just on the stroke of half time, to make the score 24-3 at the interval.
Any thoughts that Thurrock would rest on their laurels were soon shelved, as Retigan broke through the Harlow defence to score his second try of the afternoon, Burns added the extra’s. Shortly afterwards, Retigan was replaced by Tom Howells, due to a sore calf, and it was that man Worster again, who scored in the corner to complete his hat trick, and take his league tally of tries to 22. Harlow must hate the sight of him as, before Christmas, he recorded 5 in the win away, so 8 in total against them. Late replacement Ben Madden was next on the score sheet and his overall performance was outstanding. Burns added the conversion, before being replaced by Ben Gray, making his return to 1st XV rugby after a two year absence. In the last 10 minutes, Thurrock played some great rugby and Ben Stanley and Ben Madden right on the stroke of full time added further tries both converted by Madden to record a fine win. The match was preceded by a vice-presidents’ lunch which raised £900 for the ‘Help for Heroes’ appeal.
This weekend Thurrock travel to Henham to play Saffron Waldon, coach leaves the club at 12noon.