Rugby: Fleming and Evans lead Thornbury rout (From Gazette Series)

South West One West: Chosen Hill 0 Thornbury 69

4:46pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Thornbury Sport

THORNBURY returned to winning ways with an 11-try rout of Chosen Hill, writes Dave Fox.

Thorns secured maximum points in their biggest league score since beating Brockworth 70-15 at home in 2000/01.

They moved up two places in the table, but it is still very tight for the third relegation place and it is vital Thornbury win Saturday’s home game with Sidmouth, 2.30pm.

Thorns set off at a thunderous pace. From a second minute scrum they brought Adam May into the line and Ollie Fleming cut inside the cover to score a try which Tim Stephens converted.

One minute later Stephens made a blistering break which Jak Evans capitalised upon for the second try. After nine minutes Thorns went further ahead when Liam Rinn cross-kicked with pin-point accuracy for Fleming to gather and score again and Thorns were running away with the game at 17-0.

Confidence was growing and from the restart Rinn brought May into play deep in the Thornbury 22. He made good ground before passing to Dan Hussey, who raced downfield, but as the ball was moved back infield a Chosen Hill defender got in the way and saved a certain try. Five minutes later Jack Hussey was tackled short and from the ensuing scrum Thornbury shoved Chosen Hill over their own line and skipper George Maggs scored a push-over try, which secured a bonus point. Tim Stephens added the extras and Thorns were 24-0 ahead after only 16 minutes.

Thorns threatened to run riot. Several chances were created but not converted, and then Jack Hussey took a quick penalty in the home 22 for Rob Higgitt to crash over for the fifth try. The conversion put Thorns 31-0 up.

As the first half entered stoppage time Evans raced in for his second try with Stephens’ conversion making it 38-0.

Two minutes after the restart Dan Hussey beat three men in midfield before passing inside for Jon Day to amble in for the seventh try. The conversion took the score to 45-0. Midway through the second half Thorns reached the half-century when they were awarded a penalty try, which Stephens converted. Evans and Dan Hussey were close to scoring before Day burst out of a rolling maul and dived over for his second try. In stoppage time Fleming completed his hat-trick and Evans did likewise with the last play of the game. Stephens kicked his seventh conversion for a remarkable win.