Thornbury kept the ball away from the powerful Cornish forwards and played with an exuberance that saw them run in five tries, but with a sixth disallowed and two near-misses the players can feel this was one that got away, yet they did remarkably well to be in the game at the death.

The coaches were faced with further player-juggling to deal with following injuries picked up in the last game. However, in the pack Thorns welcomed back Kieran Wilson fresh from Gloucestershire U-20 duties and with Tom Constable unavailable Ollie Critchley was able to come in to the second row. Jim Massey dropped out with illness late on the Friday and Tom Williams played at No.8 with Max Harper starting at six. In the backs Dai Matthews and Gez Asante were out nursing bumps so Dan Hussey moved into the centre with James Donohue coming in on one wing and Louis Ogilvie chosen on the other allowing Harry Glew to take over from Jak Evans at scrum half, with Jak bundled up in cotton wool to avoid injury ahead of his forthcoming wedding. Charlie Squier covered the forwards along with Luke Panting on the bench, with Ben Rodriguez the backs replacement chosen for what would be his league debut. Seven of the side were still in their teens, three still at school.

Launceston needed a win to ensure they were in the play-offs, at least, and in with a chance of the title should Okehampton slip up in their last two games. They selected a strong side led by the inspirational Lloyd Duke and featuring Glen Cole, one of the most prolific goal kickers in the league. It was Cole who had fired over a remarkable touchline conversion in last play into a gale to deny Thorns a losing bonus point in the home fixture played at Lockleaze due to the conditions of Thornbury’s pitch last December.

Thornbury kicked off towards Bodmin with the sun providing welcome warmth and set about giving the ball air and width from the outset. After ninety seconds they attacked in midfield and forced a penalty but the referee allowed advantage and Thorns surged down the left where Sam Poustie put Alfie Richardson into space where he drew the cover and fed Dan Hussey who went in for the try but the referee adjudged the scoring pass forward and denied Thorns the try. It must have been a marginal decision. Thorns put the penalty in the corner and drove for the line but that was well defended, albeit illegally. Thorns went for a second drive but were penalised close to the line and the Cornish All Blacks were able to clear.

And so the first fifteen minutes continued with Thornbury attacking, Launceston defending, then when the home side got the ball they would mysteriously kick it to Thornbury’s back three who gratefully received the ball and attacked again. Poustie was bundled into touch on the corner flag after he and James Donohue had exchanged passes to open up the wide defence. But Thorns couldn’t score.

Launceston eventually managed to get into Thornbury territory and after securing a penalty put the ball into the corner and drove over from a lineout with scrum half Adam Collings claiming the try. Their first chance to score and they made the most of it to lead 5-0. That was extended to 8-0 close to the half hour mark when Thorns were penalised for offside and Cole banged the penalty over. With their scrum in trouble Thornbury were now struggling to get the ball and shortly afterwards Launceston were awarded a penalty try as Thorns were offside and in the way of an attack. Leading 15-0 the Cornish All Blacks were well on their way.

But Thornbury were undaunted and a many-phase move which included a fine drive by Chris Moseley saw Dan Hussey make ground and fed inside where Tom Williams charged to the line and passed to Harry Glew who slipped out of one tackle and drove through another to plant the ball firmly on the line for the try. Jake Wood converted to reduce arrears to 15-7.

As half time approached it looked as though Thorns were going to narrow the gap further as Louis Ogilvie attempted to intercept a telegraphed pass but he had to stretch too much and couldn’t gather the ball cleanly. Instead Launceston centre Reuben Edwards ran a fine line through the Thornbury defence but was tackled close to the line by Alfie Richardson who saved a certain try. Launceston were awarded a scrum on the line and the pack edged forward for Torin Clarke to score. Coles’ conversion extended the gap to fifteen points. But after Launceston had cleared the restart Alfie Richardson gathered the ball and ran hard, chipped over the wing, gathered his kick and sped outside the cover to dive over in the corner for a fine individual try. The conversion fell just short but Thorns were back in the game trailing 22-12 at half time.

Thornbury started the second half in similar fashion to the first. Barely sixty seconds after the resumption of play Thorns cut through down the left then Poustie moved the ball to the right where Wood swerved inside and outside two defenders to run link with Ogilvie and score a fine try. Wood was unable to convert his try but the score was now 22-17 in favour of the Cornish All Blacks and some furrowed brows appeared on the faces of the Launceston faithful. Luke Panting came on for Jack Summerfield shortly afterwards.

Launceston secure the try bonus point ten minutes into the half when player-coach Ryan Westren ran a fine line from a scrum on the Thornbury line to crash over. Cole missed the conversion but the lead was now ten points.

Thorns were moving the ball well and the Poustie-Wood duo was keeping the Launceston defence on its toes. When the Cornish All Blacks had the ball Thorns’ line speed was good and they forced their hosts into several errors. A Poustie cross-kick nearly put Ogilvie in, but shortly afterwards Thorns were robbed at a driving lineout and Launceston counter-attacked at pace and only a fine tackle from Richardson prevented a further score. Thorns held out and as the third quarter came to an end Wood was clear when the referee called Thorns back for crossing. Ben Rodriguez came on for Louis Ogilvie and Charlie Squier replaced James Donohue, with Dan Hussey moving to the wing and Tom Williams withdrawn from the pack to slot in at centre.

The reshuffle had little effect on Thornbury’s confidence and attacking style and early in the final quarter Thorns secured reward for their efforts with a fourth try bonus point. Wood again opened the Launceston defence and Chris Moseley charged through, drew the fullback and passed to Glew on the ‘22’ and Thorns’ scrum half sprinted in for his second try. Wood converted and reduced the Launceston lead to 27-24.

Sam Poustie very nearly intercepted another laboured pass, and had he done so Thorns would have taken the lead. It was a difficult ball to take, and he nearly secured it, but instead it was Launceston who scored. With five minutes remaining Thorns failed to control the ball in a retreating scrum on their line and it bounced up conveniently into the hands of Lloyd Duke who scored a simple try. Cole converted for 34-24. It had been a soft try, but one forced by the power and pressure of the Launceston scrum.

But Thorns were not out of it and as the match entered stoppage time Thornbury scored again when Sam Evans was driven over from a driving lineout. Again, the referee was in perfect position to see the score. Wood converted for 34-31. There was no time for further scoring and as the excellent referee Paddy Dummett blew for the end of the match there was an enormous sigh of relief around the ground from the Launceston players and supporters. They had achieved what they set out to do – a maximum points win, but Thornbury gave them the fright of their lives.

This was an outstanding performance by Thornbury, only surpassed by their humbling of St Ives a month before. Had Dan Hussey’s early try been awarded or other half-chances taken it could well have been an unexpected victory of some magnitude. Every Thornbury player was outstanding. Alfie Richardson counter-attacked with pace and vision, and both Jake Wood and Sam Poustie will be giving the Launceston defence nightmares for some time, but the backs couldn’t have run with conviction and imagination without the hard work of the forwards who fronted up to a powerful pack and secured plentiful possession. Although the scrum struggled the lineout went well and ball-retention and intensity at the breakdown was outstanding. This was a performance every player should take great credit for and be immensely proud of.

Thornbury’s league season ends on Saturday with another away match, this time at Bridgwater. Kick off is 3:00.

Scorers:
Thornbury: tries – Harry Glew (2), Alfie Richardson, Jake Wood, Sam Evans; conversions – Jake Wood (3)
Launceston: tries – Adam Collings, Torin Clarke, Ryan Westren, Lloyd Duke, penalty try; conversions – Glen Cole (3); penalty – Glen Cole

Teams:
Thornbury: Alfie Richardson; James Donohue, Dan Hussey, Jake Wood, Louis Ogilvie; Sam Poustie, Harry Glew; Kieran Wilson, Sam Evans (c), Jack Summerfield, Ollie Critchley, Chris Moseley, Max Harper, Louis Osborne, Tom Williams.
Replacements: Luke Panting, Charlie Squier, Ben Rodriguez.

Launceston: Tom Sandercock, Will Morton, Ryan Westren, Reuben Edwards, Martin Kneebone; Glen Cole, Adam Collings; Rikki Bentham, Levent Bulut, Greg Thomas, Dan Goldsmith, Marc Williams, Torin Clarke, Lloyd Duke (c), Brandon Rowley.
Replacements: Chae Jenkins, Harry Lightfoot, Aiden Jacob.

Referee: Paddy Dummett (Devon Society)