THORNBURY secured their first home win since September with a comfortable maximum-point haul against under-strength Wadebridge Camels, writes Dave Fox.

It was Thorns’ first victory over the Cornish side in four attempts and the win moves Thornbury above Wadebridge into fifth in the table.

Thornbury began well and from a fourth-minute scrum Dai Matthews and Kev Rudrum combined for Matthews to charge through three defenders for a try which Wayne Underwood converted to put them 7-0 up.

Rob Higgitt was called back for offside when clear before Thornbury went further ahead when, from a scrum on the Wadebridge line, they shunted the visitors’ pack over the line for Jack Hussey to score a try. Thorns attacked again and after Matthews burst through once more Ollie Fleming ran a lovely angle and hurdled the last defender for a fine try which Underwood converted to make it 19-0 after only 16 minutes.

In the second quarter Wadebridge got into the game and were camped on the Thornbury line but good defence kept them out.

Eight minutes after the half time break Thorns had the try bonus point. A pin-point cross kick from Wayne Underwood found Craig Beyer out wide and he ran in for the vital fourth try. Wadebridge scored a try from a lineout before Tom Guzman burst out of a maul and crashed over for an unconverted try. As the match went into the final quarter Thorns’ lead was 29-5. The Camels enjoyed another period of attacking in the Thornbury 22 but were unable to score. Instead Thornbury turned them over and Rich Bennett raced away from his ten metre line, but the cover came across and prevented a certain try. Seconds later Bennett was clear again with nobody in front of him but was called back for a forward pass. As the match approached its end Matthews gathered a loose ball and raced in for Thornbury’s sixth try.

Wadebridge scored a consolation try which went unconverted on the stroke of full time.

Thornbury would have accepted the score before the match started and they deserved their win, however several try-scoring opportunities were squandered and they will feel that they should have won by a bigger margin.

Thornbury scorers: tries - Dai Matthews (2), Jack Hussey, Ollie Fleming, Craig Beyer, Tom Guzman; conversions - Wayne Underwood (2) Star man: Dai Matthews – Scored two tries, hand a hand in two of the others and was aggressive in defence. l This Saturday Thornbury are away at Old Redcliffians, 2.30pm. The seconds are home to Clifton and the thirds are home to Old Bristolians thirds.

  • Thornbury Colts defeated Old Patesians 24-5 in Cheltenham. Their next National U18s cup game will be away at Devon side Ivybridge on Sunday, January 20.