RUGBY UNION: Thurrock T-Birds suffered a rare setback as the long season appeared to take its toll in a heavy defeat to Championship One North winners West Park Leeds in the North-South Cup.

Having won Championship One South for the fifth time in six seasons last season, this game - normally the play-off for promotion - meant very little to the T-Birds with the Premiership closed off.

Missing a number of key players, Ts fell behind after just two minutes and their physical domination in the set-piece was not enough.

Kara Hepper got a try back on the 10 minute mark but Ts could not cope with the speed of the opposition.

Despite scoring four tries in the end, T’s were outcome by West Park who scored seven and ran out 45-22 winners of the North-South Cup.

Thurrock: Hepper, Duffy, Pugh, French, Nichols, Dixon, Edwards, Baker, Cook, Rettie, Macdonald, Harvey, Stopps, Smith, Parsad.

Thurrock failed in their quest to get a much needed point against league champions CS Rugby who confirmed their London & South East Division triumph last weekend.

CS Rugby scored three converted scores before before a fantastic break from Sonny Gay allowed Jake Barrand to touch down under the posts before adding the conversion.

Tries from Barrand and Nathan Farrell added to Thurrock’s total in the 32-19 loss.

Thurrock visit Cobham on Saturday for the final game of the season.