A try from Chris Perrett in second-half injury time snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as Thornbury used their get-out-of-jail-free card against Gordano.

Pumped-up Gordano played with a ferocity and purpose that Thornbury struggled to deal with and had they been successful with their goal kicks, they would have won.

Gordano kicked off downhill but Chris Moseley led a powerful charge upfield before the ball was moved to Chris Perrett who ran with great purpose up the left touchline. The move forced a penalty from Gordano which Jake Wood kicked for a second-minute lead.

The lead lasted three minutes. Gordano attacked down the narrow side of a scrum and their scrum-half scored in the corner. Gordano were on top and shortly after Alfie Richardson made a try-saving tackle, their forwards barged over for a 10-3 lead.

Thorns hit back with an excellent try. They attacked from a scrum and Richardson came in as the extra man, exploited the space and used his pace and a fine dummy to score in the corner. 

Thornbury attacked in the Gordano ‘22’ with Moseley and Sam McLaren combining before, on the stroke of half time, Thorns scored again.

They had a penalty in midfield which Luke Panting took quickly and Mike Gaston made a break and Tom Constable hit the line at pace but was hauled down a millimetre short.  Thorns recycled and Henry Low crashed over. Max Curtis converted and Thorns led 15-10 at the break.

Thornbury extended their lead four minutes into the second half when following a lineout drive the ball was moved into midfield at pace, Gaston made good ground then delivered an overhead pass to Dan Duncan-Webster who scored between the posts. Curtis converted for 22-10.

The home scrum was now on top but Thorns were unable to protect the ball at the breakdown and aggressive counter drives saw Gordano secure several turnovers.

Gordano then scored two tries in quick succession mid-way through the half.

Neither were converted but Gordano had the bonus point and the momentum and with Thornbury’s lead now reduced to 22-20, the Somerset side could smell blood.

Late in the game Gordano scored a fifth try from a driving lineout. Again the conversion missed but Gordano now led 25-22.

With full-time approaching, Thornbury attacked close to the line from another penalty and after the forwards tied up the midfield defence, a long pass from Curtis found Perrett unmarked out wide and he scored the try that put Thornbury ahead and secured a try bonus point.