RUGBY BOYS DENIED LATE ON

WORTHING are learning the facts of life in London 1 the hard way. After the previous week's drubbing by promotion-chasing Havant, they might have hoped for full points from a side they beat last year in the Powergen Cup. But after two successive promotions, the lesson this week is that at this level, they can't play poorly and win.

The omens were not good when in the first 10 minutes Thanet achieved two turnovers. The Worthing pack was out-gunned and in the set-pieces were pushed around the park.

With Jody Levett and David Davies still out, the pack is inevitably weaker, but no one seized the initiative to ensure the backs were given some running.

Simon Allcott and Charlie McGowan were combining well in the lineout to win clean ball but the next phase did not get it to the backs but instead ploughed into the all-enveloping Wanderers forwards.

More details in Worthing Herald on October 9.