Wisbech rugby players start new season with victory over Thurston

A sunny afternoon at Harecroft Road proved a good omen for Wisbech as they scored six tries to claim a 40-19 try bonus point win over Thurston.

The last win Wisbech enjoyed over Thurston you have to go back to February 2020, with the men in Red claiming the spoils 28-17 at home.

The 2021-22 season was the last time these two sides met in the league with Thurston claiming the win in both home and away matches so it was not unexpected the West Suffolk side were odds-on favourites for the opening round of Counties 2 Eastern counties league 2024-25.

Injury troubles and unavailability continued to create a selection dilemma for Wisbech Director of rugby Leonard Veenendaal.

This was further exacerbated when two players withdrew from the match day team on the morning of the match, and once again veterans Ben Chapman, Sean Hawthorn and Steven Priest stepped up at late notice and did their club proud with their respective performances.

Before the game, Veenendaal said: “The focus for us all week was to try to deliver the best possible performance we can against Thurston and to correct the wrongs of the previous week.”

Wisbech withstood pressure from the visiting side early on, as both sides looked to break the deadlock.

Some clever interplay from the Thurston backs set up the first try of the game to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

However, an instant response from the Men in Red whose controlled phase play put them in the visitors' 22 and, after an inspired pass from skipper Jack Malkin found left-wing Luca Hardy who went over in the corner.

The conversion went wide to leave Thurston two points ahead.

But a determined Thurston came back with a try of their own to solidify their lead with a conversion and put themselves 14-5 ahead.

The Wisbech forwards were starting to take control of the match as they unleashed a barrage of pressure on the visitors, quick ball through the backs released right wing Kean Kemsley to score the first of his two tries, Malkin on target with the conversion cut the visitors lead to two points, 14-12.

Not to be overshadowed by the backs’ fine attacking moves, it would be a forward who would be the next to score, Raimondas Vinksna drove his way over the line, Malkin adding the extra two with the conversion with Wisbech now leading 19-14 as the whistle blew for half-time.

Wisbech picked up where they left off, scoring two converted tries in twenty minutes through powerhouse Luke Green and right-wing Kean Kemsley his second, to establish a commanding position over Thurston, who were desperately trying to find their way back into the game.

Wisbech once again found themselves over the whitewash with ten minutes to play as Will Borham powered over for another converted try, establishing a 40-14 lead with ten minutes to play.

A flurry of fine attacking moves from Thurston set the game up for a cagey final ten minutes as the away side tried to claw their way back into the fixture in search of a four-try bonus point.

After an incredible defensive display that saw the Men in Red concede just once in the final ten minutes despite a mountain of pressure from Thurston, the final whistle blew, giving Wisbech a 40-19 win with a bonus point.

It might sound cliché but it was truly a team effort with every player stepping up to the mark with an exemplary leading from the front performance from skipper Jack Malkin.

Several players could easily have claimed the Bowsers Man of the Match which was awarded to young flanker Ari Baghdouyan, whose defence was outstanding and his lineout presence faultless.

Wisbech will next be in action on Saturday at old rivals Crusaders Rugby Club.