12:00pm Friday 3rd September 2010
THORNBURY start their league campaign this weekend hoping to go one stage further than last season and gain promotion to South West One West. They are captained by Mike Sander once more with the coaching team of Gareth Llewellyn, Rob Higgitt and Darren Crompton carrying on from last season.
There is no doubting Thornbury’s pedigree but they will have to see off the challenge of Keynsham, Barton Hill, and Old Centralians, whilst any of the other teams in the highly-competitive Western Counties North will have ambitions of promotion, even new-boys Matson.
There are also changes affecting the second and third teams. This is the inaugural season of Gloucestershire RFU Second and Third team leagues.
The seconds, under new captain Andy Bamford, have a tough season ahead taking on second teams from clubs like Lydney, Dings and Clifton.
The thirds are captained by Adam Weaver and they too have significant challenges ahead.
Avonmouth 0 Thornbury 57
Exuberant Thornbury concluded their pre-season matches with an 11-try trouncing of Avonmouth under floodlights at Barracks Lane. Thorns defied the torrential rain to dismantle a weakened Avonmouth‚ and build confidence ahead of their opening league game with Berry Hill.
It took Thornbury seven minutes to open the scoring. A deft kick behind the advancing defence from Tim Stephens was gathered by Ollie Fleming, who fed Steve Allington in space. The wing was too fast for the Avonmouth cover and he touched down for a fine try. The conversion failed but shortly afterwards Thorns doubled their score when Adam Barker scored wide out.
Allington swerved inside the cover at pace for his second try of the match to put Thorns 15-0 ahead. The pace and continuity of Thorns was far superior to Avonmouth and Jack Pearce raced through a ragged defence for the fourth try, which Stephens converted.
Thornbury moved out of sight when Ollie Fleming finished off a length of field move for another try that saw them 27-0 ahead at half-time.
Adam Hodgkins crashed over for the sixth try and minutes later Fleming’s pace was too much for the demoralised home defence and he scored again.
Dai Matthews was next to score, gathering a loose ball and racing the length of the field for the try. Fleming completed his hat-trick before Dan Hussey gathered a missed kick to touch and beat two men to run in the tenth try. After absorbing Avonmouth pressure, Thorns returned to the attack and Jak Evans raced in for the final try.
This Saturday, Thornbury take on Berry Hill (3pm) and the thirds Cotham Park in league games. The seconds have a friendly with Kingswood. All three games are at home.
Thornbury scorers: Tries -Ollie Fleming (3), Steve Allington (2), Adam Barker, Jack Pearce, Adam Hodgkins, Dai Matthews, Dan Hussey, Jak Evans; Conversion - Tim Stephens.
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