Tribute South West

One West

Thornbury 48

Bideford 24

AN understrength Thornbury concluded their home league fixtures with a comfortable win over a weakened Bideford side who threatened throughout.

Both sides selected teams that reflected their selection crises. Small squads and large injury lists meant those players who could walk played.

With no second rows Thorns chose five front rowers in the scrum whilst Bideford struggled to field a fit front row.

Thornbury had a centre playing in the back row and Bideford had back rowers playing in the centre. Thornbury kicked off and looked to give the ball air and width from the outset.

Debutant Connor Thurgood enjoyed a fine run with his first touch of the ball but although Thornbury created opportunities the last pass was either poorly delivered or knocked on.

The opening score came as the first quarter drew to a close. Thornbury shoved Bideford off their ball at a scrum and Rich Bennett stepped inside the Bideford centres and offloaded to James Donohue who scored out wide. Joe Jackson converted with a fine kick.

The lead lasted two minutes as Bideford hit back with a converted try but Jackson restored Thorns’ lead with a penalty shortly afterwards.

Thorns went further ahead on the half-hour when Bennett cut inside the visiting centres to score by the posts. Jackson converted and the score remained 17-7 to Thorns at the break.

A few minutes after the restart Thorns attacked from a scrum. Bob Adams made good ground and the ball was switched to the right and for Dai Matthews to touch down in the corner. Jackson converted to open up a 24-7 lead.

Bideford’s dangerous outside half scored a converted try to reduce the deficit then as the game entered the final quarter Matthews charged through from the Thornbury ten metre line to five metres from the Bideford line.

The ball was quickly recycled and Harry Glew broke through to score the bonus point try. Tom Luke converted.

Bideford scored a third try then they knocked on Thorns’ restart kick. Thornbury attacked from the scrum and Luke joined the line and eased through to score out wide. He converted his try and Thorns were out of sight at 38-19.

Thornbury scored again with the try of the match. They ran back the restart and Bennett made good ground on a run to halfway then passed inside to Glew who charged up to the Bideford ‘22’ where he passed out of the tackle to Donohue and the winger scorched in.

The conversion missed but Thorns again ran back the restart. Matthews and Bennett combined and passed to Tom Williams who showed great pace to sprint clear from half way to score the seventh try. The conversion went wide.

Bideford snatched a consolation try and a well-deserved bonus point with an unconverted try in last play from their No.8.

The match had been a fine open game between two teams determined to play rugby in the face of adversity.

The performance from Thornbury was a significant improvement. Rich Bennett in particular had a fine afternoon tackling feverishly, scoring a try and having a hand in all the others.

Joe Jackson, Jack Hussey and Tom Williams had a terrific games. Bennett was awarded the Ronnie’s of Thornbury Man of the Match Thorns’ final game of the season is at Kingsbridge on April 22nd.

Thornbury scorers: tries - Donohue (2), Bennett, Matthews, Glew, Luke and Williams; conversions: Jackson (3), Luke (2); penalty –Jackson.