Thornton made the short away trip down the road to one of the local rivals, Garstang. The two sides had faced each other earlier in the season at Thornton where 48 points were put past Garstang with only 6 in return. The only thing that Garstang one that day was the boat race, where Tom Bailey lost to a girl. The Thornton squad has grown exponentially since then and fielded a side more fit for American football, with 28 players on the day. Unfortunately, Garstang with only one substitute invoked the league rule and only 5 Thornton subs were allowed.
The weather had not been desirable on the day, with heavy rain the night before the ground was wet and boggy in parts, and a cross wind that almost knocked you off your feet. Forwards weather. Garstang won the toss and picked their side, with the wind in their favour for the first half, Thornton had the kick off. Quickly into the match and Garstang learnt to use the wind to their advantage, kicking deep and into the corner resulting in a lineout to Thornton. Doing everything he could, Will Paterson at hooker, managed to find, against the wind, the ginger assassin Rick Brown. The ball was tapped back but in this wind it didn’t make its way to the scrum half’s hands, Pat Meehan on the wing recovered the ball and under pressure his boot found touch once again.
Garstang continued to apply pressure in the corner and every time that Thornton managed to get out of their 22, they were soon forced back into the corner. The first 20 minutes of the game was spent predominately in the Thornton 22. Excellent defence from the whole team prevented Garstang from scoring. However, Garstang were awarded a penalty in kicking range but couldn’t convert. Following the 22 drop out Garstang had a dangerous attack to the Thornton try line, tackling from ‘Gorgeous’ George Worthington brought the Garstang player down with aid from Jack Mcfarlane to hold the ball up.
Thornton now went on the offensive with a clearance boot from Jack, the ball bounced down field and went in touch. Garstang won the line out and once again went to the boot, this time it found Clint Roscoe on the other wing who made a difficult catch look easy. With support from the fullback of David ‘Speedy’ Beardsall they ran the ball back at the opposition. Thornton retained the ball and shipped it down the line. The referee blew his whistle and awarded Thornton with a penalty who took it quickly and gained another 10 yards in the process. This time, against the wind Thornton decided to run it. Baz Tucker received the ball and went to the corner and drove over the line followed by the Thornton pack. 0-5 Thornton.
It wasn’t long before Garstang were back on attack, still unable to break the Thornton defence and score a try they were relieved to receive a penalty in kicking range. Garstang 3-5 Thornton. The last few moments of the half Thornton recovered the ball in the Garstang half, with the use of a couple of quick penalties Thornton marched into kicking range with the last play of the half. Unfortunately Thornton were unable to convert.
The second half began with an attacking return from Thornton, leading with the abundance of pace from Henry Hesketh who broke through the staggered back line of Garstang, Henry popped the ball to Johnny Taylor who had only the full back in front of him. With support from Adam Hagan who received the ball in space and would’ve gone all the way and score if not for a forward pass. The resulting scrum was won by the ‘full 8’ (as Baz would say), Thornton won the scrum. At the back the ball was passed to Sean Donelly, the Garstang defence previously destroyed by the pace in the centres parted like the red sea in pursuit after the threat of the centre partnership, this allowed Sean to slip through on the inside and score. Garstang 3-12 Thornton.
Thornton return the kick off, now utilising the wind behind them and taking them back into the Garstang half. With the scrum half, Jack, caught up in the bottom of the ruck, big Dean Finnegan picked the ball at the back with sights to do what forwards do best, but with the shouts outside him he passed the ball to Jamie Beecher. The accuracy of the pass just off target, a little high, and with a player ready to smash him, Jamie gave a tap pass, the likes you’d only find on the TV to Sean who ran through and beat the fullback to score his second of the game. Admittingly, the pass to Sean was more of a fumble. Garstang 3-19 Thornton.
With the game for Garstang’s first team coming to an end, the subs for that game came over and played the rest of the game for the seconds. The fresh legs gave Garstang a second wind and brought them back into the game with a hard fought try. Garstang 8-19 Thornton.
The last few moments of the game, the Thornton pack had a few driving mauls and pick and goes down the left wing. Sucking the Garstang players in to the contact areas, the ball was shipped out wide where Johnny Taylor in space ran it in and dove for the line. The try converted ended the game at 8-26 to Thornton.
The players put every effort into the game and the first 20 minutes where Thornton were pinned in the corner won them the game, their defensive determination kept Garstang out preventing them scoring. It’s a shame for those lads that were unable to get game time, but it’s great to see the numbers available each week.
This week the Man of the Match award goes to Jack Mcfarlane whose efforts in both attack and defence won the game for Thornton. The pressure he applied and the general nuisance he caused earned him the man of the match. He also won the Man of the match boat race which (apart from Tom Bailey) we have not lost yet.

Report by Jamie Beecher