Three wins from three for Ockendon-based rugby team (From Thurrock Gazette)

Success for Thames RFC

2:48pm Friday 26th October 2012 in Sport

Thames 22

Writtle Wanderers 18

RUGBY: THAMES made it three wins from three starts with their 22-18 victory over Writtle Wanderers at the weekend.

And with both the firsts and seconds playing at home the atmosphere at Ockendon was great with plenty of support for the Greens.

Thames’ captain had the home side pumped for the gruelling 80 minutes ahead to fight for the four points on offer.

The visitors applied the early pressure, winning at the fringes, but all in all it was quite evenly matched.

Early points came for Thames when a rolling maul enabled Matt Catchpole to score a try in corner.

But Writtle hit back in the 18th minute when a penalty was conceded under the posts which the visitors converted comfortable. to take the score to 5-3.

Both teams were trying to find the weaknesses in each others defences, which saw some brilliant tackles made. Thames’s captain lead from the front and linked up well with his back line creating some good phase play. On 28 minutes the home side made their first substitution by bringing Matt Lincoln on for Pat Knapp.

As the half time whistle was approaching, both teams were throwing everything they had at each other pushing for the next score. The atmosphere around the ground was tense knowing that the game was still in the balance.

At the half time whistle, the score was 5-3 to Thames.

The second half saw plenty of action, but early on the home side conceded a silly penalty, which the visitors converted.

In the 48th minute Writtle conceded a penalty which Matt Catchpole put wide, but with the seconds game coming to an end the supporting crowd became more vocal. Lloyd Marriott offloaded for Ben Butler to come flying through the game line to score Thames second try of the day. But with the conversion missed Thames still only had a four point cushion.

Writtle replied in the 60th minute with a try and conversion to put Writtle ahead 13-10.

But when Thames replaced Paul Cooper for Peter Chedwidden the home side’s tactics paid off.

Anthony Catchpole drove through to score Thames’s third try and the conversion was scored by Matt Catchpole. And then Dan Diedericks scored Thames’s fourth.

Thames: Ben Ely; Daniel Diedericks; Peter Chedwidden; Patrick Knapp; Matthew Catchpole; Anthony Catchpole; Wade Norton; Matthew Vallis; Lloyd Marriott; Lee Cairns; Stuart Booyson; Ben Butler (Captain); Kenneth Sams; James Going; Riaan Booyson; Paul Cooper; Matt Lincoln; Chris Boyce; Patrick Moss (manager); David Catchpole (coach).