TWRUFC 1st XV 76 vs Vigo 0

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Match Report

This game started in driving rain which didn’t bode well for an expansive game of rugby or the result. Immediately after the kickoff, Thanet carried the ball up the field but were halted just five metres from Vigo’s tryline. With only seven minutes on the clock Finn White scored the first of Wanderers tries of the afternoon. The attempted conversion just shaved past the post leaving Thanet with an early 5-0 lead. It took only a further three minutes of play before that lead was extended as good handling by Wanderers allowed Tom Walton to dash across the line to score. He converted his own try to put the home side 12-0 up. 

A nicely worked lineout move enabled Gil Smith to score Thanet’s third try with the successful conversion from Walton leaving the score standing at 19-0. With less than a quarter of the game played Thanet had their bonus point as Tom O’Callaghan sprinted through the visitors defence to touch down in the corner. With the conversion going between the posts Vigo were now left trailing 26-0. 

Ben Cannon was the next to take advantage of some lacklustre defence to score the first of his tries of the afternoon. Wanderers were now completely in control of the game, but despite coming close to scoring again they were held up shortly before the end of the first half. Then right on half time, Cannon extended the home sides’ lead with another try. Following the successful conversion the score at half time was 38-0 to Thanet.

There was no thought of the home side sitting back with that score on the board and right from the kick off Wanderers again breached the visitors’ line with Cannon’s third try of the game. With Walton off the field, Louis Marshall took over the kicking duties and slotted the conversion to extend the score to 45-0. Shortly after a Vigo player strayed offside giving the home side a penalty which was kicked to touch. From the resulting lineout Lenny Brown was the next to get his name on the score-sheet as he charged over the tryline. Another successful Marshall conversion made the score 52-0. 

Just after the hour mark Thanet stole the ball in midfield and Ellis Rees-Plumridge took his opportunity to score a try to increase the score to 57-0. With Thanet still playing attacking rugby Owen Long joined the scoring spree with the next try for Wanderers. Marshall’s successful conversion brought the score to 64-0.  Thanet maintained relentless pressure in the final ten minutes, which allowed Cannon to score his fourth try of the game with a clever feint and burst forward. As the game came to a close Cannon scored his fifth try of the match which Walton, who had returned to the game, converted to make the final score 76-0.

This was a very good display by Thanet despite the weather conditions for the first 20 minutes of the game. The team pounced on any small mistake by the opposition and were relentless with their finishing.

Tries:

Conversions:

Penalties: None

Drop Goals: None