Tribute South West 1 West

Bideford 10 Thornbury 10

A try from former Thornbury wing Sam Olde six minutes into injury time denied Thorns a deserved win in the last league game of the season. Thornbury played most of the rugby and had a try disallowed in last play but squandered several chances against a side three places above them in the table.

After an even opening during which Rich Bennett and Ed Sheldon were tackled just short Thornbury twice knocked on close to the line. Opportunities were being missed but Thorns were not to be denied. Forwards and backs combined well for Jack Hussey put Mike Gaston in at the corner. Sam Jenkins’ conversion was blown just wide.

Ten minutes later the Bideford pack drove over after concerted pressure for the equalising try which went unconverted.

Thorns surged back into the Bideford half. Jak Evans crashed over but was held up. Then Sheldon produced a try-saving tackle on Olde when clear only for Thorns to counter-attack again. A frantic first half ended with the score 5-5.

Bideford started the second half at top speed but great defence kept them out. Then it was Bideford’s turn to defend well as Thorns attacked. Twelve minutes after the break Thorns were awarded a penalty but failed to find touch however Bideford’s clearing kick was poor and Gaston, Sheldon and Jenkins ran back and eventually Jack Hussey charged though for Evans to score in the corner. The conversion missed but Thorns were 10-5 ahead.

Gaston was put clear twice in quick succession but Thorns were unable to score, and a pass to Dan Hussey was called forward when the wing was clear. Then Gaston was again on the run but he was hauled down with a man unmarked outside and another chance had gone.

Bideford counter-attacked to the Thornbury line and injury to Jonny Heaven saw the game go to uncontested scrums. Thorns had a defender yellow carded before Bideford battered the Thornbury line and drove over but were held up. Now deep in injury time Thorns tackled ferociously but ran out of defenders as Olde scored in the corner to tie the scores at 10-10.

There was still time for Thornbury to restart and surge to the Bideford ‘22’. Evans was held up on the line then Bennett was just beaten to a ball kicked behind the defence. Then Thorns attacked from a scrum and Evans charged into a defender, Dan Hussey added impetus and Evans shot out the other side of the tackle and touched down. However, the referee mistakenly decided Hussey and Evans had obstructed and the try what would have given Thorns the win the deserved was disallowed. Bideford cleared and the game was over.

The Bideford supporters commented that Thornbury were the better side but their relief that they had not lost was mirrored by Thornbury’s frustration that they had not won. Whilst the disallowed try at the end would have seen Thornbury win if awarded Thorns had more than enough opportunities to put themselves out of sight well before Bideford equalised.

The league season ended with Thornbury comfortably in mid-table.

Thornbury scorers: tries – Mike Gaston and Jak Evans