THORNBURY first team has reached the half-way point in the Tribute South and West League comfortably in the top three of the division.

Many would have hoped for but few would have predicted that Thornbury would be a point away from the promotion play-off place.

But with more luck they could have headed the table. Their four defeats were games they should have won.

After Gareth Llewellyn left shortly before pre-season started, Rob Higgitt took over as head coach and brought in a new coaching team. Forwards Wayne Thompson and Ollie Kohn plus back Tom Luke joined and immediately began to focus on technical skills and address the loss of players including Ed Sheldon, Luke Panting and James Wood. The impact of the new coaches has been hugely significant.

Worries were tempered somewhat by the arrival of several new players. Forwards Colm O’Loughlin, Bertie Ridley-Thomas and Adam Davis moved to the area and utility back Bob Adams joined from Frampton Cotterell. A group of students also joined during the autumn to provide the squad with strength in depth as injuries began to mount up.

After an encouraging pre-season Thorns travelled to Bideford for the first league game. After losing Tim Stephens with an early injury, Thornbury squandered a glorious opportunity to win in injury time losing 26-23. Tom Luke scored two tries, then added two more in a 45-7 humbling of Avonmouth. Sam Higgins chipped in with 21 points on his debut at Teignmouth before Thornbury ran in eight tries in a 61-8 demolition of North Petherton. Luke scored 36 points, including a hat-trick of tries. The league sat up and began to take notice. Thornbury were efficient, effective and great to watch.

Further wins at Chard and at home to Clevedon put Thornbury third as October came to a close. However, the prolific Luke suffered a leg injury and was sidelined. Then Thorns travelled to Gloucester to take on bottom club Coney Hill. They played terribly and returned empty handed on a desperate afternoon.

A narrow home win over an impressive Drybrook followed then Thorns lost at Bridgwater. Thornbury gifted Bridgwater scoring opportunities but had a try disallowed and the game ended early with Thorns on top. A third game had slipped through their hands.

Jack Hussey, now back to top form, scored twice as Thornbury overcame difficult newcomers Newent but Thorns then lost at Wells where refereeing errors proved costly. But Thorns hit back with two impressive wins. A remarkable victory at much-fancied Weston in which teenager Alfie Richardson scored two tries was followed by a six-try win over leaders Camborne at home the week before Christmas.

Can Thornbury build on the impressive first-half of the season and be in the mix for promotion at the end of the season? There is a lot of rugby still to play. They have difficult matches at Drybrook and Newent to negotiate in addition to an end-of-season trip to Camborne, but Weston and Bridgwater have to come to Thornbury, who remain unbeaten at home.

That task begins at Avonmouth on Saturday. The Mouth, always difficult at home, have lost only once at Barracks Lane this season and will be determined to address the open sore left after their hiding at Thornbury in September. This is a true test of Thornbury’s credentials. A win will be a good indicator of whether Thornbury have flattered to deceive or whether they are the side to beat. The game kicks off at 2.15pm.