South West One West

Cleve 24 Thornbury 21

THORNBURY’S hitherto outstanding defence fatally cracked to concede two almost identical tries in injury time and a game they deserved to win was lost.

Ed Sheldon scored a wonder-try as Thorns led from the seventh minute until Cleve scored their final try in the fifth minute of injury time.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for Thornbury, yet a performance to be immensely proud of.

Cleve attacked from the kick-off and Thorns did well to keep their line intact. Then the ball was moved quickly to Sheldon in space on his 22 and he threaded his way through the Cleve defence to score between the posts, leaving seven tacklers in his wake for a magnificent individual try. Tim Stephens converted for a 7-0 lead.

The scores were equalised following a converted try by Cleve after they pounded the Thornbury line for seven minutes.

They missed a penalty shortly afterwards and Thornbury cleared into the Cleve half, applied pressure and, when Stephens kicked behind the defence, the ball bounced over the slowly-retreating full-back and Dan Hussey followed up to gather the ball in mid-air and crash over for the try. The conversion missed but Thorns were back ahead at 12-7.

Stephens missed a kick-able penalty a few minutes later but Thorns held out against intense pressure to maintain their lead at half-time.

Cleve began the second half well but missed another penalty.

Instead when Thornbury took play to the Cleve 22 Matt Belbin kicked a drop goal to extend the lead.

However, after Belbin was taken out off the ball when chasing his kick ahead, shirt-pulling created space for Cleve to score their second try. Sheldon was high tackled and had to leave the field with a head injury.

Stephens was wide with a penalty but successful with another on 80 minutes to give Thornbury an 18-12 lead.

From the restart Cleve booted the ball to the Thornbury line but a poor clearing kick was ran back hard, and with the defence wrong-footed the centre went over out wide. The conversion missed and Thorns were still ahead 18-17.

Thornbury attacked from the restart and Cleve infringed again as Stephens increased the lead to four points with his second penalty.

Then from the next restart Cleve kicked deep again and another poor kick was run back in a mirror image of the previous try.

The Thornbury defence for once was disorganised and a scrambled kick to touch was caught, recycled and the same centre scored between the posts for a converted try to win the match.

The defeat was desperately disappointing for Thornbury. Having defended so well to then concede two soft tries in injury time was a shattering experience.

The players’ commitment was exemplary and with improving performances the first win cannot be far away.

After another game lost that should have been won, the losing bonus point seemed scant reward for their efforts.

Thornbury are home on Saturday to Clevedon, 3pm.

Meanwhile, Thornbury will play Old Redcliffians in the Bristol Combination Cup at home on Saturday, November 29.

Thornbury scorers: Tries - Ed Sheldon, Dan Hussey; Conversion - Tim Stephens; Penalties - Tim Stephens (2); Drop Goal - Matt Belbin.

* Thornbury Development XV lost at Chippenham in the National U18 Cup on Friday evening but the seconds enjoyed a 33-24 win over Welsh club Ynysddu.

The third team game with St Mary’s Old Boys was cancelled as no referee was available.

This weekend all three Thornbury senior sides are at home with the the seconds facing Clifton and the thirds taking on Wotton, both 3pm.

On Sunday, the Development XV host Chew Valley in the County Cup, 1pm.

*Correction: The St Brendan’s Old Boys side did not include any first team players in their game against Thornbury thirds as reported in last week's Gazette.