After a week off, Brentwood returned to King George’s to take on familiar foes Thurrock in what is normally a tightly contested game. There were a few tweaks to the team that had travelled to Stowmarket; in the front row Louis Payne came in at hooker and in the back row Matt Whaley started with Jack Mayes swapping to the bench. In the backs there was a first team debut for Ben Shouksmith at scrum half with Isaac Kibirige starting on the wing, Alex Wilson moving to the centres and Luke Watson switching to replacement back.

Unusually playing downhill in the first half, Brentwood started strongly; an early kickable penalty attempt just missing right and shortly afterwards Isaac Kibirige thought he’d crossed the whitewash in the corner but was adjudged to have just put a foot on the touchline but Brentwood were rewarded for their early dominance when Ewan May’s second penalty attempt bisected the posts, 3-0.

Brentwood’s first try came not long after in a pleasing display of turning defence into attack. With Thurrock having worked their way up field well following the restart, Brentwood defended astutely and some good maul defence saw them earn the turnover and scrum. Jamie Cox’s clearing kick from the scrum was excellent, soaring straight over the Thurrock defenders in the backfield and with a strong chase they were forced to clear from deep giving Brentwood the ball back just shy of the 10 metre line. A penalty followed in the ruck straight after the lineout and Ewan May went for broke, landing a great kick right on the 5 metre line. The lineout was accurate, James Killington taking it at the back and quickly getting it to James Vogel with the forward pack peeling the maul around the lineout tail taking out the majority of Thurrock’s defence in the process allowing Louis Payne to dot the ball down for the try. Ewan May’s extras took Brentwood’s lead to 10-0.

Brentwood's second came about ten minutes later and was probably one of the more peculiar tries that has been scored at King George’s over the years. Another long clearance kicked had bounced down field and into the in goal area and, with the chase from Brentwood again a good one, Thurrock opted to touch the ball down. The most recent round of law tinkering by the powers that be means this is now a goal line drop out (rather than a 22) with Thurrock having to restart from behind their own posts. Fortuitously for Brentwood, the drop kick went awry and didn't clear Will Mcarthur who somehow managed to both charge the ball down and catch it in one movement. Brentwood's forwards piled in to clear out, Fraser Parris crashing it up once before it was flipped one out via Jamie Cox to James Vogel who dived over the try line for an opportunist try. Ewan May knocked the conversion over, 17-0.

In contrast Brentwood's third was a stunner. Some strong carries in the middle of the pitch from George Bassenger, Fraser Parris, Dan Suttle and James Vogel had forced Thurrock’s defence to narrow with Jamie Cox spotting the space on the left wing for the crossfield kick. The kick was spot on and could not have bounced more perfectly into the arms of Isaac Kibirige who didn't have to break stride to regather, rounding the last defender to score the try. Ewan May added the conversion, 24-0.

Thurrock saw yellow not long after for an accumulation of penalties and Brentwood had one final chance before half time to add to their points when a penalty was kicked to the corner. The maul was well set and rolled over the try line but with the referee having not seen the grounding the ball was adjudged to have been held up despite Brentwood's protestations that it was down.

The second half saw Thurrock hit back almost immediately, a strong maul causing problems for Brentwood's defence before a gap was spotted in the midfield which Thurrock exploited to go in under the sticks, the conversion making the score 24-7.

Thurrock now had the wind in their sails and the slope to their advantage and were putting Brentwood under considerable pressure both in terms of territory and possession. Brentwood were stuck firmly in their own 22 for long periods and when Jack Mayes saw yellow for a deliberate knock on it wasn't long before Thurrock struck again. In a similar vein to their first try a driving maul was set before a strong burst through the middle saw them over the try line and with the extras added the score was now 24-14.

Brentwood's woes continued when, in a case of mistaken identity, Fraser Parris was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle that had actually been committed by Charlie Wilkinson...Two minutes later, Thurrock’s third was scored, this time directly from their driving maul and although the conversion missed at 24-19 things were suddenly very uncomfortable for Brentwood. Fortunately though, Brentwood clung on, seeing out the clock with a Jamie Cox shot a goal which apparently just missed but given that it was now basically dark it was difficult to tell...

For Brentwood, a disappointing second half to score no points and miss out on a bonus point try but also credit to Thurrock who came back strongly and I think Brentwood were certainly happier to hear the full time whilstle! Next week Brentwood take on league leaders Letchworth Garden City in what would be a great time to find an 80 minute performance...Letchworth have yet to lose this season, only a draw against Eton Manor preventing a perfect record, with Brentwood losing the away fixture by 11 points.