TWRUFC 3rd XV 39 vs Leigh 17

Live Text, Match Report & Information

Match Report

Thanet Wanderers Men’s 3rd XV 43 – 17 Leigh Layabouts

Anyone who was present at St Peters on Saturday would have been surprised by two separate events. First, Leigh actually turned up for a match and second, Thanet started the match with Mike Whitehead at inside centre. Neither of these phenomena lasted long though: although Mike is clearly a man of many talents, it quickly became clear that playing as a back is not one of them, and second, Leigh scuttled off without as much as a courtesy drink in the clubhouse having been put to the sword by a swashbuckling second half display from the ‘thirds’.

Thanet came into the match hoping to erase the disappointment of last week’s narrow defeat to Ashford Barbarian, and that the bodies of the 5 ‘Vets’ in the team would hold up after a tough match less than 24 hours previously. Throughout an even first half, Leigh’s main threat came through the boot of their fly-half and their ball carrying forwards. Thanet showed glimpses of their class with Zac Castle and Fran Gillespie finding gaps to exploit, yet it was the forwards who ultimately applied the finishing touches. The first try came from Joe Carlier, achieving something his father could never do by playing second row for a senior men’s team. The second was set up by youth with Owen Long chasing down Tom Gough’s kick off and finished off by the experience with Harry Price providing a textbook drive to put Thanet 14-12 up at the break.

As the teams turned round, the result was in the balance but it was Thanet who turned on the style in the second half scoring a further 5 tries to the opposition’s solitary reply. 

Thanet had spoken about ball retention at half time and a catch and drive from a line out set a sound attacking formation and the opportunity was seized by a slick back line who found space for Patrick Liddle to score the first of his brace in the corner.

What followed was not only a contender the try of the season and but also the score that broke Leigh resistance. Receiving the kick off, the ball was spun wide to Liddle. Consecutive back of the hand passes from him and Ellis Plumridge impressed the crowd and bamboozled the defence. From there the power of Warren Riddel-Broomfield's charge took him clear before returning the ball to Owen Long who had started the move, to sprint over to take Thanet three scores clear.

Refusing to rest on their laurels, Thanet added three more tries before the end. Liddle scored his second, Luke Tolley, who filled in admirably as scrum half (particularly when attacking from right to left) spotted a gap at a ruck and sprinted through, and Zac Castle finished the rout to take the score past 40.

This was another superb example of what Third team rugby is all about with an even mix of youth and old age experience combining to produce a fine display. Special mention must also go to club stalwarts Warren Riddel-Broomfield and Mike Whitehead who showed true club spirit by strapping on their boots and playing with full commitment. With 5 games left, anyone who wants to have a game before the end of the season needs to get a move on, and coming to the Power Hour on Wednesday nights would be highly recommended too!

Thanet team: Harry Price, Warren Riddel-Broomfield, Oliver Parker, Joe Carlier, Tom Harvey, Owen Long, Will Craven, Ellis Plumridge, Luke Tolley, Tom Gough, Leon Gordon-Jones, Zac Castle, Mike Whitehead, Greg Shingles, Fran Gillespie, Patrick Liddle, James Whowell, Martin West, Tony Boyce.

Tries:

Conversions:

Penalties: None

Drop Goals: None