Barking 24,

Thurrock 26

RUGBY: THUROCK have finally got over their losing streak. This derby was expected to be a close run thing. And in the end Thurrock just about did enough to claim the spoils.

Barking were first on the score sheet when winger Lemack went over unopposed.

His try was well converted by the accurate Ratford. Thurrock had the better of the early exchanges.

But they did lose ball at the base of the scrum, well inside the home side’s half and this was collected by Barking’s scrum half. He fed the ball back to full back Barham who ran a full 60m to score in the corner.

So, within 15 minutes, Thurrock were trailing 12-0.

But in the 20th minute Nathan Farrell found himself in space and he crashed over close to the posts.

This allowed Jake Barrand to easily convert. Five minutes later James Flavin got the visitors level but the conversion was slightly adrift. Neither side could get a grip on the match. But a minute before the break the home side took the lead with a try from Driver.

Trailing, Thurrock knew they had to change tactics And in the second half Farrell again scored the easiest of tries after a Frankie Neale chip.

The chip found the unmarked winger who waltzed under the posts, Barrand added the conversion to put Thurrock ahead for the first time and took the score to 19-17.

Thurrock huffed and puffed but began to find the going tough. A missed penalty gave them some breathing space, but the visiting supporters were rewarded when – after many phases of pressure – Jonathon Skelton went over and Barrand converted. This put them nine points ahead with less than five minutes to play. But Barking had other ideas and Lemack scored a bonus point try, converted by Ratford, to give a closer look to the score line.

This week Thurrock are at home to Tring. Kick off at Oakfield will be at 3pm.