National League 3 (London & SE)

Thurrock 27

Barking 14

RUGBY: THURROCK have won their first match of the season. The win has been a long time coming and there were cheers at Oakfield on Saturday as T’s showed their class in the bottom-of-the-table clash fought in wet conditions.

The visitors started off the better side and Ratford converted two penalties within the first seven minutes. But gutsy Thurrock edged their way back into the game.

They made most of a fumble in the backs as Brad Retigan was able to kick through. And after a chase, winger Jake Barrand touch down. Barrand just failed with the conversion – after taking over the kicking duties from Frankie Neale who had tweaked a hamstring earlier in the match. The game ebbed and flowed with neither team able to add to the score sheet. But in the dying seconds of the half T’s were rewarded for their determination when Lewis Bruger drove over to give Thurrock the lead. Barrand missed the conversion.

The game was won by the home side in the first 10 minutes of the second half as they stormed through direct from kick off. Aston Bevans-Royston scored another forward orientated try, and this time Barrand added the extras. Minutes later Retigan picked from the base of the scrum to crash over close to posts and Barrand stretched Thurrock’s lead to 24-6. Barking’s Ratford kicked another penalty to edge the visitors back into the game and then, with 10 minutes to go, he cashed in after a string of penalties were given away by the home side. Then, from a five-yard line-out, he worked an unconverted try to come within 10 points.

But T’s nerves were eased when Barrand added a late penalty and sealed a bonus point victory. The game marked home debuts for Alex Jones at scrum half following his impact the previous week when coming on as sub at Hertford. Another new face was Aussie recruit Jonathan Skelton, who only arrived earlier in the week, and prop Lewis Bruger Thurrock have a mid season break this weekend, but the following week they travel to Tring.