Pacey backline gives Thames problems (From Thurrock Gazette)

Thames put through the mill by Dagenham

3:10pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Sport

Thames 17, Dagenham 72 RUGBY: THAMES welcomed promoted Dagenham in a game of two halves.

Dagenham exerted their dominance throughout the first half managing to run in a host of tries using their pacey backline.

Thames bagged a solitary score in the first half through back row Adam Napper who snuck over the line from a tap penalty five metres out.

The second half was a vast improvement for Thames who kept the ball amongst their forwards and managed to starve the Dagenham backline.

Skipper Greg Toohey roused his troops with some powerful runs.

Thames managed to score a well worked try after good combination work from number eight Matt Vallis and scrum half Riaan Booysen at the back of the scrum allowed Vallis to power over from two yards out.

The same combination then set up Stuart Booysen to dive over in the corner. The youthful side rounded off a tough season with a performance which showed signs of promise for next term.

For much more rugby see Friday's THURROCK GAZETTE.