Good Start to 2016

Thetford 8 Crusaders 15

Crusaders completed the double over Thetford their winning try came in the second half of a fiercely contested 80 minutes, which no side deserved to lose. Thetford made a good start and opened the scoring with a good winger's try that they failed to convert. Crusaders then suffered a further blow when after 10 minutes Rob Craig playing at fullback suffered a hand injury which ended his game. Good refereeing rectified the scrums and Crusaders forwards began to gain some ascendancy and were rewarded when John Payne struck a 40 metre penalty to close the gap to 5-3. Thetford's strong running three quarters were stretching Crusaders defence before their fly half dropped a neat goal to increase their lead.
Fielding an inexperienced back line Crusaders forwards began to control the ball and worked their way to within 10 metres of Thetford's line and from a drive at a line out Joe Hawkins powered over for a try. John Payne converted to give Crusaders an 8-10 lead.
Crusaders' narrow lead looked in jeopardy with Thetford trying hard to bring their speedy backs into play, but Crusaders defence resisted with some excellent cover defence from the back row and hooker Dean Anderton.
It was only fitting that the winning try came from Crusaders forwards whose 2nd half control of the ball was exemplary. Number 8 Rob Dye touching down after intense pressure on Thetford's line 8-15.
Excellent defence by Rob Kingsley and Greg Thurston stalled a Thetford late charge.