Stunning win at home for Thornbury

Ruthless Thornbury ran in eleven tries as they put Farnham to the sword and earned a place in the quarter finals of the Papa John’s Regional 2 Southern Plate.

Alfie Richardson scored a hat-trick and both Sam Garbett and Charlie Shipp scored twice as Thorns recovered from conceding a first minute try to rack up their highest total in a cup match.

The forwards dominated possession and the backs capitalised as Thorns played at pace for the full eighty minutes.

Farnham kicked off downhill into the sun and after Thorns made a hash of managing the kick-off the visitors scored in the first minute.

The conversion missed but Farnham had put a marker down.

They had come to play.

A few minutes later Garbett raced down the touchline and after Farnham were penalised Thorns opted for a lineout in the corner and surged over for a Mike Priday try.

Jack Pinker converted.

Thorns scored again a few minutes later when the forwards drove again from a lineout before centre Max Curtis ran a fine line to score.

Pinker converted then the lead was extended shortly afterwards when Thorns attacked from a scrum on their own ‘22’ and crisp passing set Richardson clear and he scorched in for a fine try.

Pinker’s boot saw Thorns lead 19-5 as the first quarter came to a close.

A few minutes later Thornbury shoved Farnham back at a scrum before Pinker cross-kicked for Garbett to score.

Pinker converted.

The scrum was becoming increasingly dominant and after Mike Gaston and Mike Johnson tied up the defence Richardson came in on a great line and put Garbett in for his second try.

The conversion made it 33-5. Farnham hit back with a try on the stroke of halftime but Thornbury led 33-12 at the break.

Thornbury scored again within two minutes of the restart.

Priday made a break and Tom Constable charged thirty metres to score a fine try.

Pinker’s kick took the score to 40-12 and the tie was won.

Luke Panting stole a poor Farnham lineout and powered over for the next try. Pinker converted and Thorns passed the half-century shortly afterwards when following a dominant scrum Richardson’s pace was too much for Farnham and he scored in the corner for 52-12.

The biggest roar of the afternoon came two minutes later when following a quick penalty colt Charlie Shipp backed himself and sprinted thirty-five metres for his first senior try for the club.

Thorns led 57-12 as the third quarter drew to a close.

Farnham scored a third try before Shipp scored a second when Thorns robbed Farnham on the Thornbury ‘22’ and the ball was moved quickly to the wing who raced in from halfway.

Then following another Priday break Richardson wrong-footed the cover and sprinted through the defence on a forty-metre run to the posts. Pinker converted both. Farnham had a consolation try in last play Thornbury had won 71-24.

It had been a fine performance all-round by Thornbury who were determined to play open rugby and scored some glorious tries.  

Thorns’ back-three scored seven tries between them whilst in the forwards James Wood, Chris Moseley and Henry Low carried hard.

The scrum was particularly impressive and it was not surprising that the man of the match went to flanker Ben Wood for an all-action performance.

Thornbury travel to Drybrook next Saturday for the quarter final.