South West One West

Thornbury 18 Bideford 23

THORNBURY struggled to play with the intensity and accuracy required to overcome a tenacious and focussed Bideford side in the opening league match of the season.

Two glorious tries from Ed Sheldon in the first half gave Thorns hope but possession was limited. Nevertheless, Thorns could have won the game.

Bideford kicked off downhill and immediately pressurised Thornbury, who seemed short of pace and focus. The visitors went ahead after three minutes when a wing cut through midfield to score alongside the posts for a converted try. They added a penalty shortly afterwards.

Trailing 10-0 and with the lineout not working, things were looking distinctly gloomy for Thornbury.

The scrum was blowing hot and cold but was distinctly hot at a scrum outside the Bideford 22, taking the strike against the head, allowing Wayne Underwood to run into space before Sheldon ran outside then inside the defence to score. The conversion missed but Thornbury were back in the game, trailing 10-5.

Bideford added a second try from the scrum half after powerful forward drives and threatened to run away with the game as it ended the first quarter.

Joe Jackson saved a certain try, tackling former home favourite Sam Olde into touch, but Thorns were continually on the back foot, living off scraps of possession.

Then a deep kick was marked by Dan Hussey close to his own line. He tapped and ran the ball, moving it quickly to Underwood. He made a half break then passed to Sheldon, who picked the ball off his boot laces and raced through the Bideford defence on a 70-metre run to score the try of the match between the posts.

Tim Stephens converted and added a penalty to reduce the arrears to 17-15, which remained the score at half-time

Within 90 seconds of Thornbury starting the second half they were ahead as Stephens kicked a penalty.

Thornbury increased their intensity but they couldn’t score. Underwood was tackled on the line and the forwards were on top but, despite good runs from Sheldon and Hussey, they continued to make errors.

Bideford survived the onslaught and kicked a second penalty to regain the lead as the rain began to fall heavily.

The Bideford forwards took control again and kept the game tight, whilst Thornbury moved the ball at every opportunity but were not accurate enough; instead Bideford scored a further penalty and could have scored another, which would have denied Thornbury a losing bonus point.

Bideford kept Thornbury at bay and held out for the win.

It was a disappointing performance by Thornbury.

Sheldon was man of the match and there were good performances from Jack Hussey, Luke Panting, James Wood and Tom Boaden in the pack whilst the Thornbury backs all threatened but were unable to make the most of half-chances.

There is plenty of work to be done ahead of next Saturday’s match at Bridgwater.

Thornbury scorers: tries - Ed Sheldon (2); conversion - Tim Stephens; penalties - Tim Stephens (2).