Flying winger Nathan Farrell is hero of day (From Thurrock Gazette)

Tees too hot for Old Colfeians

2:00pm Wednesday 4th April 2012 in Sport

Old Colfeians 5, Thurrock 48 RUGBY: FOLLOWING the euphoria of last week – when Thurrock gained promotion from London One North – it was always going to be difficult to raise Tees again.

But after an opening spell of pressure from the home side’s forward catch and drives, Thurrock made their first foray into the opposition half.

And it resulted in a simple try for Nathan Farrell which was the start of a great afternoon for the flying winger as his strength and pace was key all afternoon.

Although Frankie Neale missed the conversion, within minutes he increased the visitors lead with a close range penalty.

Thurrock still had their cutting edge, as Farrell exploited the smallest gap and scored under the posts to give Neale the simplest of conversions.

A couple of cheap penalties put Thurrock on the back foot and allowed the Colfe’s catch and drive come into play and their persistence paid off when scoring in the corner.

Thurrock were not finished there has they asserted more pressure and Frankie Neale went over for a well worked try which he duly converted to give Thurrock a 22-5 lead at the break.

The second half was all Thurrock only some desperate defending and a referee who seem to award more scrums than minutes played kept the score down.

Bradleigh Rettigan scored a try from a quick tapped penalty and further tries came from Nick Cooper-Hicks and Ben Stanley the first and later being converted by Neale.

But the defining moment of the day when Thurrock wrapped up a decent win when that man Farrell again exposed the home side defensive frailelties to score his third try of the match.

Thurrock: Neale, Farrell, B.Stanley, M.Stanley, Boshell (Barrand) Rudgeley, Cook North, Carey, Bevans-Royston (C.Rate), Cooper-Hicks, Loka (Ellis), Timson, Russo, Rettigan.

This Saturday Thurrock have a week off, with just two matches remaining. Their next game is the last home game of the season when Tees entertain Eton Manor.

For much more rugby see Friday's THURROCK GAZETTE