THORNBURY began their league campaign with a deserved victory in a tough match with league newcomers Longlevens.

Thorns scored 21 points in twenty-minute bursts in each half and never looked in danger of losing although Longlevens gave them plenty to think about.

Thorns kicked off downhill and went ahead after 71 seconds.

They secured the kick-off, and playing at pace moved the ball through forwards and backs. Luke Panting received the ball ten metres from the line and barged over. Jack Pickles converted for a perfect start.

Another score looked likely from the restart but they had to wait ten minutes before being awarded a penalty try when Longlevens brought down a rolling maul and Thorns led 14-0.

A few minutes later Longlevens infringed again and Thorns put the ball in the corner then drove Henry Low over from the five-metre lineout. Pickles converted and as the first quarter came to a close Thornbury led 21-0.

Longlevens got on the scoreboard a few minutes later with a converted try from a driving lineout, then added a penalty to reduce arrears to 21-10.

Longlevens controlled much of the second quarter as Thorns appeared to take their foot off the gas but there was no further score and Thorns remained 21-10 ahead at the break.

Longlevens started the second half the better and secured a second-minute try. The conversion made the score 21-17 and Thorns had to knuckle down. They did so and won a lineout in the Longlevens ‘22’ from which the forwards looped around and Low crashed over for his second try and the bonus point.

Pickles added the extras then five minutes later converted Thornbury’s fifth try. Sam Garbett made good ground down the right and linked inside to Panting who passed out of the tackle to Jak Evans. He chipped behind the fullback and gathered the ball to score. With the kick Thornbury led 35-17.

As the match went into the final quarter Sam McLaren scored the try of the match. Thorns attacked from a scrum on the right on halfway and when the ball came to Thorns’ centre he swerved past one player then stepped inside another and using his considerable pace left defenders in his wake to score between the posts.

A fine try deserves to be converted and Pickles obliged to extend the lead to 42-17.

Longlevens were on top for most of the final ten minutes. They scored two converted tries from pick-and-go attacks by the forwards on the Thornbury line. Time ran out for them and the final whistle went shortly afterwards.

It had been a fine, tough game from which both sides showed what they could do yet have areas to work on.

Thornbury secured maximum points and scored when they needed to but gave away a couple of soft tries.

The set-piece went well but Thorns were frequently turned over at the breakdown. However there was good movement in the backs and the defence was generally sound against good opposition that threatened to move the ball wide whenever they could.

There were plenty of positives for Thorns. Jack Pickles had a fine game, his best in a Thornbury shirt, and he was awarded player of the match.

Next Saturday Thorns are at Gordano, kick off 3:00.