Thurrock 13, Chingford 15 RUGBY: TEES suffered a heartbreak defeat at Oakfield on Saturday. It was a game which could have gone either way.

In the end the visitors edged it. But Thurrock, with three first choice second rows missing through injury, and prop Seb Rate crying off the morning of the match with illness, had to reshuffle their pack.

Luke Crowhurst, normally a back row player stepped up to the second row. And he was joined by evergreen Lee Herrington, and John Murphy made his hooking debut after joining from Colchester.

But the pack played brilliantly and although against a larger pack they out scrimmaged, and competed well in the line out.

Mark Brandon put the home side in front with a well taken penalty, after the home side endured an opening spell of pressure coming away without Chingford scoring.

However, the Thurrock lead was short lived, as pressure told and despite some brave last ditch tackles visiting winger Gaze got over in the corner. Hayward then kicked the conversion wide out of the post. Little did the crowd know that the piece of fortune would be the difference at the end. Brandon got another penalty bang on the half time whistle so the teams turned round with just a point between them.

Chingford, as they did in the opening exchanges, came out better and unforced errors and penalties put Thurrock on the back foot. Stefan North was given a yellow card after the referees patience was finally tested. And Chingford added their second try through Kells, and a further Hayward penalty see them cruise to 15-6 lead.

But Thurrock came back put Chingford under sustained pressure. And James Flavin scored, Brandon added the conversion and it was all to play for in the final five minutes.

Thurrock could not create an opening either a try penalty attempt or a drop goal after encamping in the Chingford half and despite a brave performance it was not to be.

Thurrock: Worster, Porter, Madden, Stanley, Rudgely (Gorman 65m), Brandon, North, Murphy (Partridge 69m) Stevens, Crowhurst, Herrington Flavin, Timson, Rettigan This week Thurrock travel to Tabard based in Radlet.