A FINE team performance by Thornbury, which included a hat-trick of tries from Dan Hussey, secured their first league victory away from home this season, writes Dave Fox.

The win moves the club up to seventh in the table.

Thornbury attacked with confidence and stretched the Widden defence. They never gave the Gloucester club time to settle and both Simon Weaver and Matt Belbin tormented the defence with kicks into space.

Belbin pulled off a fine try-saving tackle before Thornbury opened the scoring. An accurate kick from Weaver behind the Widden defence was gathered by Hussey, who dived over for the try. Weaver’s conversion drifted wide.

The second score came close to half time when Widden failed to gather a high kick and Tom Guzman picked it up and raced in from the ten metre line to score between the posts. Weaver converted.

Almost directly from the restart Ollie Fleming split the Widden defence and after good play by Dan Hussey and Sam Olde, skipper Wayne Underwood crossed for a third try close to the corner. Weaver’s conversion was narrowly wide but Thornbury were 17-0 ahead at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half Adam Hodgkins set off on a run from halfway which created the opportunity for Hussey to score his second try.

Thornbury tails were up and once more Hodgkins broke through. This time Fleming took the ball on and, after a fine pass from Nick Balman, Olde scored another try. Matt Belbin converted majestically from the touchline.

Hussey completed his hat-trick late in the game, kicking ahead and gathering the ball to score between the posts. The conversion hit the post.

There was no further score and Thornbury had enjoyed a rare win in Gloucester.

Thornbury scorers: Tries - Hussey (3), Guzman, Underwood, Olde; Conversions - Weaver, Belbin.