For the third consecutive week Cobham found themselves in hard fought and extremely close encounter
Again a number of changes had to be made to the team this week due to unavailability and injury which has plagued the young squad all season and been the main reason for their inconsistency.
An injury mid week to fly half Tom Farrelly and unavailability of Luke Flower saw a full debut for Coach Ant Braithwaite at standoff . In the centres Alec O’Conor had his first start of the season partnering James MacDonald. With Ryan Saunders over his sickness from last week Tiernan White moved to the wing with Max MacDonald unavailable.
Up front Ryan Aujla started at tight head with Mario Zakakiotis away on international duty for Cyprus & Ben Joyce still injured. Utility forward Sam Matcham started in the second row with Doug Rodman.
All these changes didn’t effect Cobham's confidence and and within the first five minutes Ant Braithwaite had set up James MacDonald for the opening try up with the conversion out wide from Braithwaite. 7-0. Cobham followed up with a second try came from Tiernan White when broke down the left wing scoring out wide. 12-0 Thurrock captured a penalty 12-3 but although Cobham had lost their debut centre Alec O’Connor to a hand injury they crossed the line again this time from fullback Will Sanders running down the right wing. 17-3.
An injury mid week to fly half Tom Farrelly and unavailability of Luke Flower saw a full debut for Coach Ant Braithwaite at standoff . In the centres Alec O’Conor had his first start of the season partnering James MacDonald. With Ryan Saunders over his sickness from last week Tiernan White moved to the wing with Max MacDonald unavailable.
Up front Ryan Aujla started at tight head with Mario Zakakiotis away on international duty for Cyprus & Ben Joyce still injured. Utility forward Sam Matcham started in the second row with Doug Rodman.
All these changes didn’t effect Cobham's confidence and and within the first five minutes Ant Braithwaite had set up James MacDonald for the opening try up with the conversion out wide from Braithwaite. 7-0. Cobham followed up with a second try came from Tiernan White when broke down the left wing scoring out wide. 12-0 Thurrock captured a penalty 12-3 but although Cobham had lost their debut centre Alec O’Connor to a hand injury they crossed the line again this time from fullback Will Sanders running down the right wing. 17-3.
Having won their last six matches this wasnt written in the script and Thurrock now started a come back and were rewarded with a Niall Clifford try and although the conversion wasnt successful a late tackle by Cobham on the try scorer was rewarded with a penalty.
From the subsequent line out Thurrock secured the ball and with their backs joining the drive centre Henry Bird went over 17-13 Cobham still shell shocked then saw their lead lost as Dylan Fearon scored wide out deep into injury time, Stanley added the conversion for Thurrock to lead 17-20 at the break.
Cobham had to make a second change at half time losing centre James MacDonald meaning hooker Theo Buffini came in at centre not for the first time this season.
After a pointless first twenty minutes Cobham regained the lead when scrum half Ryan Saunders broke down the right from a scrum
22-20 and although Thurrock came back with another try 22-25 there was still time for winger Jordan Bond to score a converted try 29-25
Having secured their league status the previous week with a final minute victory Cobham could not hold on for the win this week and Thurrock's Joss Nunn scored the final try converted by Stanley 29-32
Five tries from Cobham were not enough
Team
1 Chris Lippiatt
2 Andrew Murphy
3 Ryan Aujla
4 Sam Matcham
5 Doug Rodman
6 Ali Porter
7 Olly Fox (C)
8 Jake McQuade
9 Ryan Saunders
10 Ant Braithwaite
11 Tiernan White
12 Alec O’Conor
13 James MacDonald
14 Jordan Bond
15 Will Sanders
16 Theo Buffini
17 Freddie Joyce
18 George Tunnacliffe
Scores
1 Chris Lippiatt
2 Andrew Murphy
3 Ryan Aujla
4 Sam Matcham
5 Doug Rodman
6 Ali Porter
7 Olly Fox (C)
8 Jake McQuade
9 Ryan Saunders
10 Ant Braithwaite
11 Tiernan White
12 Alec O’Conor
13 James MacDonald
14 Jordan Bond
15 Will Sanders
16 Theo Buffini
17 Freddie Joyce
18 George Tunnacliffe
Scores
No 13 James MacDonald x1 Try
No 11 Tiernan White x1 Try
No 15 Will Sanders x1 Try
No 15 Will Sanders x1 Try
No 9 Ryan Saunders x1 Try
No 14 Jordan Bond x 1 Try
No 10 Ant Braithwaite x 2 Conversions
Man of Match Will Sanders, Sponsored by George & Dragon Thames Ditton
No 14 Jordan Bond x 1 Try
No 10 Ant Braithwaite x 2 Conversions
Man of Match Will Sanders, Sponsored by George & Dragon Thames Ditton
