THORNBURY go into Saturday’s home game with Wells knowing nothing less than a maximum points haul will do in their challenge for a Tribute South West One West play-off place.

Following their narrow defeat at Newent last week, Thorns have to earn try bonus points when winning each of their remaining home games and come away with something from the difficult match at Camborne.

It may sound a tall order but Thornbury are more than capable of achieving that goal. The team has quality players throughout and they play a highly-entertaining, attractive style of rugby.

Their main rivals, Newent, have an easier run-in but they are at Camborne on Saturday shorn of three key players and facing a side who could be crowned champions if they win with a bonus point.

Wells are an inconsistent side. At their best they are very good, at their worst they are quite poor. Thornbury are yet to defeat them in a league match although they should have won the game at Wells last December.

Some mystifying refereeing decisions denied Thorns the victory they deserved and that frustration should be used as a motivating factor.

Thornbury owe Wells a hammering. Wells will be no push-over, and following recent results they have been drawn back into the battle to avoid relegation. They are equal on points with North Petherton who occupy the third relegation place.

Their playmaker is outside-half Aaron Cook, a fine kicker and a player with excellent tactical awareness. He needs to be closed out of the game.

Thornbury’s backline will be hoping for a dry day and a firm pitch on which to launch their attacks. Some players missing at Newent should be available and a full selection will be more than good enough to win. But rugby these days is often won by “the top six inches” – the mind of the players. Thornbury will need to be accurate, intense and creative, and if they are they should have no difficulty in securing the five-point haul. But anything less against a Wells side desperately fighting for survival could see Thorns coming up short.

With the support of the vociferous home crowd, Thornbury should triumph. Then they have the daunting task of playing fourth-placed Weston-super-Mare at home the following Saturday, the only side to win at Camborne this season. But Thornbury have to take each game as it comes, and will not be thinking about anything other than giving Wells a hiding.