Manor welcomed old adversaries Thurrock to the New Wilderness this week and with the visitors sitting one place higher in the league Manor knew they were in for a tough afternoon.

Thurrock kicked off the match and as Manor tried to run the ball back a big two man tackle on the Manor ball carrier won the visitors a penalty in front of the posts. With the easy chance taken Manor were behind 0 - 3 after only a couple of minutes of play.

Thurrock soon increased their lead when from the kick off they drove into Manors defence setting up a ruck, from the back of the ruck Thurrock’s No 8 picked up the ball, ran past some ineffectual tackling and made 40 meters before finally being brought to ground inside Manors 22, although Manor tried to realign, the damage had been done and the ball was recycled quickly and passed along the line for Thurrock’s opening try. The conversion was missed, but at 0 - 8 down after only 4 minutes of play, Manor were somewhat shell shocked and needed to wake up otherwise they were going to be thrashed.

Manor now started to get into the game, driving at Thurrock where Garth Tucker and Fred Newbury were proving hard to stop. Manor worked their way towards Thurrock’s 22 where the ball was fed out to Andrew Connors who broke through a couple of tackles before being brought down, as Manor tried to recycle the ball the ref brought play back for a Manor penalty. Nick Sheppard stepped up and put the ball between the posts and after 8 minutes Manor were back in the match 3 - 8.

Manor kicked the restart deep into Thurrock’s territory where the ball went out of play for a lineout to the visitors. They won the thrown in and tried to run the ball at Manor, but the home side had now sorted out their defensive line and there was no way through. Eventually the pressure told and Manor turned the ball over and when the ball reached Mark Woollard he put in a delicate chip over Thurrock’ s advancing defenders, Nick Horton gave chase and outpaced the covering defenders but as the ball bounced unkindly, at full pace he had to gather the ball from his boot straps, this caused him to lose balance and try as he might he could not quite keep his feet and with the open try line beckoning, he stumbled and fell a couple of meters short of the line. This gave the defenders time to compete for the ball on the ground, winning a turnover then launching a counterattack from deep which saw play move to the halfway line where Manor forced a knock on winning a scrum. From here and although under pressure Manor won their scrum allowing Newbury to fed Sheppard on the short side. Here the centre stepped inside his man and made 20 meters before passing out of the tackle, the ref deemed this pass as forward and halted Manors attack. At the scrum Manor gave away a penalty then a disagreement between the two front rows saw Manors George Cosma and Thurrock’s tighthead prop both shown a yellow card but the penalty was reversed in Manors favour. Sheppard took another shot at goal which was successful bringing the scores closer at 6 - 8 after 15 minutes of the game.

Manor were now having the better of things and straight from the kick off Manors centres Connors and Sheppard, who troubled Thurrock all match, combined to beat would be tacklers as they pierced Thurrock’s defensive line, but their hard work came to nothing when another forward pass gave the initiative back to the visitors by way of a scrum. This time though Manor turned the ball over with Newbury quickest to react to a loose ball, diving on it allowing Manor forwards to secure possession. Here Tucker, Jack Sullivan and Connors combined to take play into Thurrock’s 22 where they were awarded a penalty for offside. Manor kicked to touch for an attacking lineout. With Tom O’Connor securing clean ball Manor drove towards the line only for the maul to be brought down illegally giving Manor another penalty. Again Manor kicked to touch, but at the lineout the ball wasn’t straight giving Thurrock the opportunity to clear the danger from a defending scrum. This time though it was Manor who got the nudge on at the scum, this caused the ball to shoot out of the back of the scrum, Misiona Evagelia was quickest to react gathering up the loose ball and diving over the line for Manors first try. The conversion attempt was successful and after 25 minutes of the half Manor now led 13 - 8.

Manor were now playing with purpose, attacking Thurrock at pace with both wingers George Harman and Ollie Phillips getting their hands on the ball and making good ground. Eventually a mistake halted Manors attack and Thurrock were awarded a scrum on their 22 meter line. At the scrum Manor looked to have got the nudge on but the ref penalised Manor and awarded Thurrock a penalty, something was said as the scrum broke up and as a result Tryson Goodchild was given 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Despite Manor being down to 14 men, Manor were still dominating play and after a good break by Newbury, driving play into Thurrock’s 22, Manor were awarded a penalty. This time Sheppard was unable to add the extra points. Thurrock kicked the re-start long towards the halfway line, but Manor just drove the ball back into Thurrock’s 22 where another error allowed Thurrock to turn the ball over, but they were unable to make much ground, as they tried to run the ball back at Manor the ball carrier was driven into touch bringing the first half to a close with Manor leading 13 - 8.

Manor kicked off the second half and Thurrock immediately went on the attack, but unlike at the start of the first half, Manors defence was organised and kept Thurrock at bay. A big hit from Rory Moore knocked the ball free winning Manor a scrum. From here they began to attack but were penalised after a run from Cosma when he was adjudged to have held onto the ball. This gave Thurrock a penalty opportunity, but from 35 meters out the kick was unsuccessful.

Thurrock still attacked Manor and tested their defence eventually winning a lineout on the home side’s 22, but Manor were helped when Thurrock were penalised for delaying the put in. Horton put in a long kick which was taken into touch by a Thurrock player giving Manor at lineout. Here they secured the ball and set up a rolling maul which took play 20 meters up field. When it finally came to a halt the ball was spun along the line to Harman on the opposite wing who headed towards the try line only to be bundled into touch 8 meters short.

Thurrock continued to press for another score and took play into Manors 22, here solid defending by Sheppard, Moore, Connors and all of the Manor team held Thurrock at bay, eventually the intensity of Manors defence paid off when Thurrock knocked the ball on they knocked the ball giving Manor the opportunity to clear the danger, which they did.

It was now Manors turn to attack inside Thurrock’s half and after Connors and Max Murray combined well the ball was fed to winger Phillips who chipped ahead into Thurrock’s 22. Here the visitors tried to tidy up but appeared to knock the ball on before it rolled back to another player who kicked it away straight into the hands of Harman who from 15 meters out had no one in front to stop him scoring, except the ref who had not let any advantage materialise, had blown his whistle for the knock on denying Manor a certain try. To rub salt into the wound, from the subsequent scrum Manor were penalised allowing Thurrock to clear the danger. After 17 minutes of the second half there had been no change to the scoreboard.

Manor were now having some joy at the Thurrock lineout and from a stolen throw in they launched another attack through Tucker who made his way towards Thurrock’s 22, when brought to ground Manor recycled the ball quickly allowing the ball to pass through the backline and out to Murray who had joined the attack out wide, he beat a couple of defenders before cutting inside, this created a gap for Harman out on the wing, but Murray was unable to get the ball to the unmarked Harman and eventually the ball was turned over allowing Thurrock to kick the ball out for a Manor line out.

Manor continued to attack with Murray, Phillips and Harman all linking well before Goodchild drove the ball on winning a penalty. The kick was 45 meters out but as Manor were still within one score of their opponents they opted for a shot at goal. Unfortunately the normally reliable Sheppard didn’t have his kicking boots on this week and the attempt fell short.

Manor continued to have the better of possession and territory but could not break through Thurrock’s defence and a silly penalty gave Thurrock the chance to grab the winning score they wanted. From the penalty they kicked deep into Manors 22 for a lineout which they won, drove forward before releasing their backline but as they attempted to execute a planned move they accidently ran into their own man giving Manor the opportunity to clear the danger from a scrum. This they did courtesy of Tucker who powered off the base of the scrum making 30 meters before being brought to ground. With the Manor pack there in numbers the ball was fed to Phillips who took the attack on before linking with his forwards who then rumbled the ball towards Thurrock’s 22 before a knock on halted another promising move.

The game was drawing to a conclusion, but Thurrock continued press and attack inside Manors 22, but they did not look like breaking through for the decisive score. Manor turned the ball over and after a long kick ahead by Horton found themselves pressing inside Thurrock’s 22 where Harman had chased well and although the ball carrier evaded him, he tracked him back and as he tried to pass backwards when tackled, Harman was on hand to snatch the loose ball and set up another attack which eventually resulted in a Manor penalty. Again Sheppard missed the chance but with time almost up Thurrock tried to run the ball out from behind their own line, but they were met with a solid blue line who forced Thurrock into touch inside their 22.

From the lineout O’Connor caught the ball and the Manor juggernaut worked its way towards the line only to be brought down illegally 5 meters short, with the ref this time playing advantage and the ball going loose James Osborn was quickest to react snapping up the ball and diving over from close range for Manors match winning score. The difficult conversion was missed but with time just to restart and Manor to kick the ball dead the game finished with Manor victorious 18 – 8.

Manor had now won their fourth game on the trot beating a good Thurrock side. After going behind so early on Manors defensive display improved considerably shutting the visitors out for the remaining 74 minutes of the game. Whilst Manor must be pleased with the win and the fact that they denied their opponents any bonus points, they know that they left a few scores out on the park which could have given them a try bonus point. As Manor strive to improve no doubt the clinical finishing will return and there is an opportunity for this to happen at next weeks game away to Saffron Walden when Manor will attempt to extend their winning run to four matches, but it will be no easy task against the newly promoted side who have acquitted themselves well this season.