Hornets 33

Thornbury 12

Thornbury began 2019 with a forgettable performance as they failed to threaten Hornets on the Somerset team’s artificial pitch.

Four penalties from Jake Wood were all Thorns took from a they were outplayed at the breakdown and unable to retain sufficient possession to threaten.

The match began at a furious pace with both sides moving the ball quickly through their backlines. Thornbury opened the scoring from a Wood penalty after five minutes.

Hornets equalised with a penalty before Wood doubled Thorns’ score with his second penalty.

As the match entered the second quarter Sam Poustie was yellow-carded. Hornets exploited the man advantage and scored in the corner for a 8-6 lead.

Hornets’ tails were up and Thorns were again on the back foot defending their line.

Hornets kicked a second penalty but Thornbury’s discipline was poor and Johnny Heaven was yellow-carded. Hornets capitalised again with a try from a driving lineout.

Thorns hit back when Wood kicked his third penalty but Hornets led 16-9 at half time.

Thornbury started the second half with renewed vigour and both Jak Evans and Tom Williams made good ground and forced a penalty which Wood kicked to reduce arrears.

With Heaven back on, the Thornbury scrum was on top but elsewhere they were not so focussed and the defence cracked in midfield and Hornets’ winger scored for 21-12.

As the game went into the last quarter Thorns drove over from a lineout in the Hornets ‘22’ with Sam Evans clearly touching down, however the referee was badly positioned and failed to see the ball being grounded and disallowed the try.

Instead, it was Hornets who scored when another weak tackle allowed them in for the fourth try to lead. Thorns’ play was now desperate.

Jak Evans broke from a scrum deep in his ‘22’ and charged up to halfway but as the ball was moved across the line, a Hornets hand knocked it on and the chance was gone.

As the match went into stoppage time a telegraphed pass was intercepted for the final try, which was converted and Hornets won 33-12.

Hornets were superior in almost every facet of play, dictated the tempo and secured turnover after turnover.