Thornbury recovered from a fierce Hornets fight-back to secure their first league victory of the season.

Thorns just did enough for the win but had to go through a nail biting finish when the Hornets missed a penalty seven minutes into stoppage time.

Thornbury kicked off downhill and had the better start. Jake Wood opened the scoring with a penalty after eight minutes. Then Hornets attacked from the restart and after ten minutes camped on the Thornbury line, the visiting forwards drove over for a converted try.

Thorns hit back when Jak Evans broke from a lineout, fed Tom Williams who crashed through two tacklers before offloaded to Tom Luke who scored by the posts. Wood converted to restore the lead at 10-7.

Thornbury took the restart and headed back into Hornets territory with purpose. Wood kicked a second penalty then Thorns scored again. Sam Poustie kicked behind the Hornets defence where Wood and Ben Phillips caused chaos in the defence. Phillips drove for the line but passed out of the tackle to Poustie who scored in the corner. Wood converted for 20-7.

Hornets restarted but Thorns’ tails were up and when Luke dummied the defence and sprinted clear they had scored a third try. Wood converted to give Thornbury a 27-7 half time lead.

Wood extended the lead with a penalty early in the second half then Phillips was yellow-carded and Hornets immediately took advantage and scored a converted try. Thorns seemed to have lost focus and Hornets scored a further converted try from a scrum, making it 30-21.

Hornets had momentum and took a quick penalty on the Thornbury line to score a fourth converted try. At 30-28 it was game on and Hornets looked favourites to win. Phillips came back on and Thorns had conceded twenty-one points in his absence.

Shortly afterwards, the Hornets went ahead through a penalty but Thornbury regained confidence and Luke restored Thorns lead with a penalty.

They then attacked from the restart. Luke created space for Dan Hussey to make ground and feed Jack Hussey for a try out wide. Thorns’ first try bonus point of the season, they led 38-31.

Three minutes into injury time Hornets scored a try but the conversion to tie the score was wide. There was still time for the match to restart.

Hornets surged upfield and four minutes later Thornbury were penalised in midfield close to the ‘22’. The Hornets kicker missed much to Thornbury's relief.

In a truly thrilling game in which Both sides played some magnificent Rugby, Thornbury’s committed defence and creative attack saw them home.