Thorns were by far the better side on the night but were unable to make their superiority tell on the scoreboard and in a tense final few minutes went behind only to score a great try in stoppage time to earn a place in the final.

With the cheers still ringing in the players’ ears after the outstanding win over St Ives the previous weekend confidence was high, but injuries and work commitments made selection more complicated than hoped. With Sam Poustie nursing an injured shoulder Jake Wood moved up from centre to outside half. Rich Bennett and Dan Hussey came together at centre with the versatile Harry Glew on the left wing and Colts captain Jonny Sanderson on the right. Luke Panting came in at tight head for the unavailable Johnny Heaven and both flank forwards were hookers, skipper Sam Evans at six and Tom Williams at seven. Five replacements were permitted and Thorns went for a three-two split forwards to backs with Ollie Critchley’s work commitments permitting him to play alongside Max Harper and Liam Pemberton. Ben Rodriguez was drafted in for his first competitive match for the First XV alongside Gez Asante, who was nursing a shoulder injury and only likely to play in a case of emergency.

Cleve, from the league above Thornbury, had beaten a weak Thornbury side in pre-season and had since then struggled and were in the bottom three of South West Premier. The cup draw meant the match was to be played at the Hayfields, but good sense prevailed and the match was played on the Thursday evening rather than as part of the final day of the Six Nations when neither side had a match.

Cleve kicked off into a breeze with moisture in the air and looked to deploy their muscular game, but Thornbury’s defence was tight and after a few minutes they forced an error and Alfie Richardson spotted acres of space behind the Cleve defensive lines and a good chase put pressure on the home side. Cleve were unable to properly clear their lines and Thorns had a driving lineout on the Cleve line which was well defended. Cleve then began to give away penalties deep in their ‘22’, and from one in front of the posts Jake Wood kicked the goal for a well-deserved 3-0 lead.

Thorns didn’t deal with the restart well and Cleve secured possession. After the forwards had driven several times Thorns defence was too narrow and wing Brandon Hart scored an unconverted try out wide.

Thornbury returned to attacking in the Cleve ‘22’ and showed great patience. Twice the forwards drove over from a lineout and the referee decided the ball-carrier was held up. Jak Evans went over and looked to have scored, but again the referee was unconvinced. Cleve played to the referee and were penalised several times for a variety of offences and it was feared that the referee had forgotten to pick up his yellow cards, but eventually home skipper Mike Uren was yellow-carded. Minutes later Thorns regained the lead when another driving lineout went over and although the ball was clearly touched down the referee had to be convinced by the touch judge that the try had been scored. The try scorer was Luke Panting. Thorns led 8-5.

Cleve had a chance to tie the score in the last play of the first half but a kickable penalty was blown wide and Thornbury deservedly led 8-5 at the break. Olly Critchley came on for Jack Summerfield at half time with Sam Evans moving to hooker.

Alfie Richardson was involved several times early in the second half as Thorns gave the ball air, then after seven minutes Thorns attacked in midfield from a lineout, Jim Massey held up the defence then Dan Hussey ran hard into space, drew the cover and passed to Alfie Richardson who used pace and great determination to take him around the last defender and in for a try. The conversion didn’t quite get there, but Thorns were now 13-5 up. Jack Summerfield came on for Luke Panting.

Cleve surged upfield from the restart and their pack looked to pound the Thornbury line, but the defence was outstanding. A Cleve player was then penalised for foul play, much to the irritation of Jake Wood who made his frustrations known and both players were yellow-carded. Things got worse for Thorns shortly afterwards when Harry Glew received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Cleve made their numeric advantage tell and after close play amongst the forwards close to the line wing Harry Williams went over for a try. Now only leading 13-10, things got very nervous for Thorns. Max Harper came on for Chris Moseley.

With the match in the final quarter Alfie Richardson made a glorious break from a scrum and this forced a deliberate knock on from a Cleve centre. The referee was consistent and sent him to the bin as Jake Wood came back on. Thorns again drove from a lineout and crashed over for what looked a certain try, but whether it was the poor light or great defence the referee was again unable to award the try. Harry Glew came back on and shortly afterwards the Cleve player carded at the same time as Jake Wood was pulled up for another offence and received a second yellow card, converted to a red. Ben Rodriguez came on for Alfie Richardson and slotted in on the wing with Harry Glew switching to fullback. Liam Pemberton came on for Sam Evans.

With a few minutes left Thorns had possession and needed to close out the game, but the ball was knocked-on on halfway, Cleve responded quicker and charged up to the Thornbury line. Good defence initially kept them out but the inevitable try came when prop Lionel Appleton was driven over. Williams converted to put Cleve 17-13 up. Cleve, it seemed, had cleverly deployed their “get out of jail free” card. Thornbury’s bad luck appeared to have returned and having been ahead for much of the game and looking more likely to win, they were now staring defeat firmly in the face.

With the match now in stoppage time Thornbury used their backs again. Jake Wood put Ben Rodriguez away and the young winger made good ground down the touchline before being tackled to touch ten metres out. Cleve needed to win the lineout, control the possession, and close out the match for the win. But Tom Constable had other ideas, and the lock who had celebrated his nineteenth birthday the day before, acrobatically stole the Cleve lineout. The ball was taken in towards the posts, then moved into the backs but passing was initially laboured before Jake Wood created a half yard of space for Harry Glew to come in on a good line that took him through the first line of defence, he then showed good feet and pace to ease past two further players and had enough strength to touch down for an outstanding try despite the attentions of the Cleve cover. The conversion went wide but Thorns were now a point ahead at 18-17.

There was still time to restart but mysteriously Cleve decided to kick deep rather than go short and give their forwards the chance to regain the ball. Jake Wood took the ball into contact, Cleve were penalised and Jak Evans tapped the ball and hoofed it to touch for the end of the match.

It had been a tense game from the kick-off, but the last few minutes were unbearably exciting and a thrilling experience for the big Thornbury crowd. It would have been a travesty had Thornbury not won the game. Although their forwards faced a lumpy pack in which Mike Uren was a threat whenever he carried the ball, Thorns showed the energy and played the rugby, using their backs to great effect, despite most of them being chosen out of position.

The forwards were outstanding, and the ball-carrying was well-supported. The defence was excellent and little regard was shown for their own bodies. The commitment was of the highest order, and had it not been so Thornbury would not have won. In an outstanding pack Tom Constable had a fine game and deserves great credit for stealing the Cleve possession that led to the match-winning try.

Alfie Richardson and Harry Glew had a lot of work to do to score their second half tries, but were given the chance by the players inside them. Jake Wood was again a threat, whilst Rich Bennett tackled everything that moved. However, it was a fine team performance.

Thornbury are now in only their second Combination Cup Final, and they play Weston-super-Mare on April 25th, probably at Dings Crusaders’ Shaftesbury Park.

Scorers:
Thornbury: tries – Luke Panting, Alfie Richardson, Harry Glew; penalty – Jake Wood
Cleve: tries – Brandon Hart, Harry Williams, Lionel Appleton; conversion – Harry Williams

Teams:
Thornbury: Alfie Richardson; Jonny Sanderson, Rich Bennett, Dan Hussey, Harry Glew; Jake Wood, Jak Evans; Kieran Wilson, Jack Summerfield, Luke Panting, Tom Constable, Chris Moseley, Sam Evans (c), Tom Williams, Jim Massey.
Replacements: Max Harper, Olly Critchley, Liam Pemberton, Ben Rodriquez, Gez Asante.

Cleve: Cameron Bull; Henry Williams, Aaron Sealy-Grant, Harry Brooker, Brandon Hart; Sheldon Stevens, Josh Mortimer; Lionel Appleton, Tom Gollop, Paul Vinnicombe, Dean Brooker, Ben Bauman, Freddie Flook, Matt Wright, Mike Uren (c).
Replacements: Luke Smith, Myles Raymond, Oakley Gwyther, Brandon Mustoe.

Referee: Oli Carey (Bristol Rugby Referees Society)