Great win for muddy Thorns

Three tries in a controlled first-half built up an impressive lead which would have been quickly whittled away had they not tackled ferociously or force North Petherton into making errors.

Injuries meant Thorns were once again prevented from fielding an unchanged side. In the pack James Phillips came in on the flank for Ben Marlow and Kieran Wilson and Johnny Heaven switched positions with Kies taking the place on the bench. A reshuffled backline saw Jack Pinker move to scrum half with Sam Poustie coming in at outside half and Harry Glew slotting in on the wing. Kieran Sparrow came in hoping to double his first team appearances from the bench where he was joined by the versatile Charlie Squier.

Thorns needed a big pack to handle the heavy and powerful North Petherton eight which give all visitors to Beggar’s Brook a torrid afternoon. Thornbury had frequently led early on at North Petherton only to lose late in the game. They won narrowly at the Somerset club’s ground last season and enjoyed a 35-6 win at home earlier this season. North Petherton lay two places and four points below Thornbury in the season but both clubs had won ten matches so far.

For the second successive weekend a severe storm hit the UK and North Petherton kicked off in the teeth of the storm. The pitch was waterlogged in many places and it immediately began to turn into a quagmire. The surface was precisely the opposite of what Thornbury prefer.

North Petherton secured plentiful possession in the early minutes but a high kick was blown back over their heads and Thorns ventured into the home half for the first time. The heavy Pethy scrum was on top but Thorns were able to hold most of the set-piece but struggled on their own ball and had it not been for the skill and experience of Jack Hussey playing the ball from a retreating scrum Thorns would have been in trouble. Sam Poustie controlled the game with accurate kicks into the tramlines that put Pethy on the back foot, and with the home lineout not working and Thorns stealing ball or forcing errors the momentum was quickly with Thornbury.

The opening score came after eight minutes. Poustie this time hoisted a Garryowen which the home defence made a hash of dealing with. Alfie Richardson chased the ball and kicked it ahead then got to it first, picked it up and scored alongside the posts. Jack Pinker converted for a 7-0 lead.

Pethy then put the ball up the jumper and with rolling maul and pick and go phases pressurised just outside the Thornbury ‘22’, but Thornbury’s defence was water-tight. Shortly afterwards Sam Poustie kicked for Harry Glew, who took the ball and was away but the referee called him back for offside. It must have been marginal.

Jack Pinker’s foot slipped as he attempted a penalty and the kick missed, but Pethy were unable to clear their lines and after Thornbury forced a turnover the forwards pounded the home line with Jay Burley eventually barging a defender out of the way and scoring. As Pinker attempted the conversion the ball blew off the tee and the kick went wide.

Thornbury were now playing with confidence. The kicking of Sam Poustie continued to cause problems and pressure from Louis Osborne at the lineout secured plentiful ball. After thirty minutes a heavy tackle dislodged the ball on halfway and Jack Pinker broke clear then kicked behind the defence. It took a deflection and Harry Glew raced after it knowing he was onside, kicked ahead and gathered the ball to run round and score between the posts. This time Jack Pinker’s kick was good and Thorns were 19-0 ahead.

A groggy Chris Moseley was forced to leave the field with a head injury shortly afterwards and Charlie Squier came on with James Phillips moving into the second row. James Wood was also struggling with an ankle injury but Thorns continued to press and close to halftime Pinker kicked a penalty. Thornbury led 22-0 at halftime. Would it be enough of a lead for Thorns facing the storm and a fired-up home pack?

North Petherton dominated the second half but didn’t make such good use of the wind as Thornbury had, kicked on fewer occasions and still struggled at the lineout. But their scrum was powerful and Thornbury had to knuckle down to hold them. Kieran Wilson provided fresh legs coming on for Johnny Heaven.

Thorns tackled and tackled as virtually the whole second half took place in their half. But Pethy could not get through. When Thornbury got the ball kicking clear was difficult so Thorns looked to keep it in hand. Alfie Richardson tried to run clear and Sam Evans carried the ball into contact on several occasions then had to leave with a leg injury. Kieran Sparrow came on with Mike Beswick moving from the wing to the back row, Charlie Squier taking over as hooker.

Eventually, Pethy opened their account. With seven minutes to go the dominant scrum forced a series of penalties in the Thornbury ‘22’ the last of which saw Thorns’ front row stand up close to their posts and the referee awarded a penalty try. Shortly afterwards Kieran Wilson was yellow-carded. Johnny Heaven came back on with Stu McWhinnie joining the forwards at scrum time. Although Pethy controlled the latter stages they were unable to break through the resolute defence.

As the game went into injury time Thornbury were camped on their own line but kept their line intact. Surely there wouldn’t be enough time for Pethy to win now. Thorns forced errors but couldn’t clear their lines. Then they had a scrum on their own line. They were shoved backwards, lost the tight head and James Taylor picked up and touched down for the try. The referee said that was it and Josh Frost prepared for the conversion knowing the game was lost. The kick was good but Thorns had won 22-14.

This was a memorable match and one of the most committed performances Thorns have delivered in recent seasons. The defence was outstanding and against the odds they played rugby with the forwards in particular putting in a huge shift, all the more remarkable as several players carried injuries but were unable to be replaced. It would be unfair to pick out players from a team of committed heroes but Louis Osborne had one of his best games in a Thornbury shirt, was a menace in the breakdown and a mighty thorn in the side of the Pethy lineout.

On Saturday Thornbury are home to Cleve in a re-arranged game. Kick-off is 2:30.

Scorers:
Thornbury: tries – Alfie Richardson, Jay Burley, Harry Glew; conversions – Jack Pinker (2); penalty – Jack Pinker.
North Petherton: tries – James Taylor, penalty try; conversion – Josh Frost.

Teams:
Thornbury: Alfie Richardson; Mike Beswick, Stuart McWhinnie, Billy Cantin, Harry Glew; Sam Poustie, Jack Pinker; Johnny Heaven, Sam Evans (c), Jay Burley, Chris Moseley, James Wood, James Phillips, Louis Osborne, Jack Hussey.
Replacements: Kieran Wilson, Charlie Squier, Kieran Sparrow.

North Petherton: Mitchell Needham; Jamie Adams, Mike Stevens, Harry Auton, Lewis Allen; Josh Frost, Dom Griffin; Dan Morgan, Sam Williams, Alex Ogilvie, Arron Gibbs, Aiden Cotton, Alex Dunham, Dan Dwyer, James Taylor.
Replacements: Mac Taylor, Jack Coles, Jon Gallagher.

Referee: Daniel Evans (Somerset Referees Society)