The Warriors started well in the gusty conditions playing against the wind and keeping possession for Tim Johnson to feed Conner O’Reilly from a lineout who scored a run away try within the first 5 minutes converted by Jacob Bodkin. The wind caused havoc with the lineout, yielding scrum after scrum as hookers failed to keep it straight but the Warriors kept the pressure on despite a series of long wind-assisted clearance kicks, chasing under the chip for JP Hart to charge down a kick and score. Thetford rallied quickly exploiting a knock on from the restart to feed scrum half Chris Thomas who scored on the blind side within minutes to keep the home supporters keen. Fired up by this Thetford kept up the pressure forcing some strong defence from Jono Cooke, James Gilbert and Olly Gray as Thetford’s flankers Dan Field and Sean Groomfield harried and battled to keep possession away from the thieving Warrior No 8 Nick Woodley. Eventually Jacob Bodkin broke to take play back into the Thetford 22 where repeated carries from their forwards was eventually rewarded with a storming try from Jono Cooke. Minutes later Thetford were again under the cosh and conceding penalties deep in their own territory, their locks Dan and Ash Cotton defending hard for full back Reg Gardener to take play up field only for Jacob Bodkin to hand off and sprint 50m from the lineout and score before the break.
With the wind behind them Woodbridge fly half JP Hart and centre Connor O’Reilly kept the kicks long and chased hard allowing Jacob Bodkin to take 3 points from a penalty as Thetford lost a player to the bin. Thetford still looked dangerous on the break but the Woodbridge defence held, keeping possession in the set pieces and always on the hunt for a turnover or break which came as Jono Cooke ran 10m to offload to the hard-working Nick Woodley who scored a converted try putting the match out of reach. Thetford never looked downhearted and maintained pressure to the last but at the whistle it was the Warriors relentless spirit that won the day.
Thetford 10 v Woodbridge Warriors 34
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