Tribute South West One West

Coney Hill 38 Thornbury 24

THORNBURY suffered their second league defeat of the season going down to a fired-up Coney Hill who deserved their maximum-point win at Metz Way. Weakened by injuries, Thornbury never got going, failed to play with intensity, accuracy or focus and left empty-handed for the first time this season.

Coney Hill kicked off and Thornbury immediately mishandled the ball. It was not to be Thornbury’s only mistake of the afternoon.

After close opening exchanges Coney Hill went ahead with a converted try from a lineout but five minutes later the scores were level. From a lineout quick ball was moved into midfield where Rob Higgitt made a half break and Sam Higgins stepped inside the cover to score a fine try which he converted.

Thorns went behind again on the half hour when flaky defence failed to deal with the marauding Coney Hill No.8 and he put a prop in for another converted try.

Thorns insisted on aimlessly kicking possession away allowing the home side to counter attack. As half time approached another wayward kick was fielded by the full-back who evaded four woeful tackles before the hooker scored between the posts. The conversion saw Coney Hill 21-7 up at half time.

Thornbury looked more purposeful for the second half and after three minutes had reduced the deficit. Dai Matthews linked with Liam Pemberton and Sam Evans before a kick behind the home defence wasn’t cleared and Rob Higgitt dived on the loose ball for the try. Higgins converted magnificently from the touchline to reduce arrears to 21-14.

Thornbury were now in control. The scrum drove Coney Hill off the ball twice in quick succession but Matthews was called back when clear for a dubious forward pass. With the momentum with Thornbury another score would surely see them ease ahead and towards victory. That seemed to have come shortly afterwards when Higgitt charged down a clearing kick. As he kicked the ball over the Coney Hill line he was held back by the home wing and then obstructed by a second player as he dived on the ball. A clearer penalty try you couldn’t wish to see. The referee sin-binned the wing for his offence but mysteriously didn’t award a penalty try. Higgins kicked a penalty to make the score 21-17 but the impetus was lost.

Thornbury played into Coney Hill’s hands and the pendulum swung back towards the Gloucester club. Coney Hill got their bonus point try a few minutes later when poor tackling allowed the home side in, and after they kicked a penalty the game was put out of sight with a fifth try thanks to further weak tackling.

Wayne Underwood scored a scruffy consolation try in stoppage time for Thornbury, with Higgins’ conversion bringing up the final whistle which heralded a 38-24 defeat.

Although the scrum was impressive and Sam Higgins ran well Thornbury were poor. They kicked badly, dropped the ball and tackled only occasionally in a forgettable afternoon. This is a wake-up call for Thornbury who will have far harder games ahead in the next few weeks, starting with Drybrook next weekend.

Thornbury scorers: tries – Sam Higgins, Rob Higgitt, Wayne Underwood; conversions – Sam Higgins (3); penalty – Sam Higgins.