THORNBURY have endured a curate’s egg of a season so far with the first XV taking last weekend off.

It has been good in parts. It has actually been very good in parts and although three wins from six games suggests some degree of the mediocre, it could well have been six wins from six with a little more luck and composure. The prospects are good.

Head coach Tom Luke has focussed much of his backline selection on the club’s development squad, which possesses a team of rare talent. Although young and inexperienced, the players have taken to adult rugby with considerable relish. Wings Jake Wood, who turned 18 in early September, and Louis Ogilvie, who celebrated his 17th birthday in August, have taken the chances offered to shine in the first XV with both hands. Wood’s 21 points in the win over Matson, and Ogilvie’s brace of tries in victory at Clevedon are prominent successes of the early-season campaign.

The results include a first win at Bridgwater and a first league win on the main pitch at Clevedon, but home defeats to Launceston and Newent were frustrating narrow reverses.

Injury in the second minute of the first game robbed Thornbury of the services of Tim Stephens, a recognised goal-kicker with great experience. Wood and Bob Adams have been forced to take on the role and although enjoying some success, a higher percentage of points from kicks would have seen Thornbury to victory in at least one of their narrow defeats. But goal kicking isn’t the only reason Thornbury have lost a couple of games. This season it looks as though every team in the league can score tries and has the potential to beat anyone else, reflected in the table that fifth and twelfth places are only separated by six points.

This weekend Thornbury travel to Cullompton, who sit one place below them at fifth. Cullompton, who were promoted back to the league last season, have a side built around a substantial pack. Yet Thornbury should be good enough to come away with a win provided the forwards can win sufficient ball for the backs to run with. Thornbury have won there once, on their last visit three years ago, but know it will be far from easy this weekend.

November looms and that looks a particularly difficult month. Thorns are home to North Petherton, a side that tends to do well against Thornbury, then away at Drybrook who are full of confidence in second place and recently inflicted a 113-point hammering on Bideford. Okehampton follows, against whom Thornbury failed to turn up twice last season, and then it is away to league leaders Exeter University. Just for good measure, Thorns play National Two side Clifton at home in the Bristol Combination Cup on November 18.