THIS Saturday Thornbury welcome Teignmouth to Rockhampton for the first ‘home’ game between the clubs.

Teignmouth were promoted to South West One West at the end of last season having won Western Counties West. However they endured a difficult start to the season, struggling to deal with the pace and intensity of the game at this level.

Thornbury enjoyed a 41-17 win on the road last September, a margin of victory that emphasised the newcomer’s early-season problems. Although Thorns fielded a weakened side fullback Sam Higgins enjoyed a dream debut, scoring 21 points including 2 tries.

Teignmouth are now a much different proposition. They have recruited some new players and have player-coaches who were Plymouth Albion players only a season or two ago.

They have the added benefit of a post-Christmas game under their belt – a convincing 34-17 win over Wells last Saturday.

They appear to be a banana skin Thorns need to negotiate with care, but with the right frame of mind Thornbury should be good enough to win.

Thornbury hope to welcome back player-coach Tom Luke who had an impressive start to his Thornbury career before injury sustained in mid-October side-lined him.

Rich Bennett is also available for selection and Thornbury should be able to pick a side from a larger pool of players than of late, although Sam Higgins will miss the rest of the season following his injury against Wells last month.

The game kicks off at 2:15.

Thornbury First XV’s game with Avonmouth was called off due to a waterlogged pitch last Saturday but a couple of First teamers helped out the second XV to an impressive 64-14 win over Cleve III at Thornbury Grammar School.

Alfie Richardson led the way with a try and seven conversions whilst skipper Steve Allington scored two tries as did Dan Green and Ben Guzman. Liam Pemberton, Tom Head and Jack Civil-Williams also scored tries in the convincing win.

Thornbury Third XV lost at Bristol Telephones, going down 34-27 on a muddy pitch. The side never gave up against Telephones first XV and were on the wrong end of some dubious refereeing decisions.

Thornbury’s match with Avonmouth has been rescheduled for February 6 at Barracks Lane, Shirehampton.

This weekend Thornbury Firsts take on Devon side Teignmouth at Rockhampton Road. Teignmouth will arrive full of confidence following a comprehensive 34-17 win over Wells last weekend, and are clearly a completely different outfit to that which Thornbury comfortably defeated last September.

Thornbury should disregard them at their peril as Teignmouth are clearly a better side than their league position of third from bottom suggests.

Also at home are the Third XV who take on Bishopston II, whilst the Second XV have a difficult match at St Mary’s Old Boys.

The Bradley Stoke side are still hurting from the tragic injury to their skipper Liam O’Keeffee. Thornbury, and many other local sides, have carried out fundraising for the player and Thornbury collected £400 for the player’s fund the weekend before Christmas.

On the Sunday between Christmas and New Year Thornbury and the PROPS Barbarians combined to take on a Bristol Youth Reunion XV to raise funds for children and young adults with learning difficulties.

The match, now an annual fun-day, saw the Bristol Youth side win 58-5 at The Chantry, with Harry Calder scoring a try for the Thornbury and PROPS selection. Various fund-raising activities, including a spectacular raffle, enabled over £1200 which was handed over to the charity at the end of the day.