TONBRIDGE Juddians emerged victorious from the fog at Combe in a closely contested top-of-the-table clash in National Three London & South-East.
Combe had inflicted TJs’ only defeat of the season back at The Slade and were lying third in the table with TJs at the top.
Tonbridge took the lead through a Liam Prescott penalty and then extended it when George Lawson intercepted to race 80 metres and touch down, giving them a 10-point lead.
However, the home side began to control the ball. Tonbridge’s defence were on their guard but Combe’s big pack had a sniff of the line and added a converted try to a long-range penalty to level the scores. TJs closed the half with a second Prescott penalty to go in 13-10 ahead.
The home team’s forwards then started to exert pressure. Two tries followed on the left but crucially only one was converted as the kicker hit the bar with a long-range effort. At 22-10 the home crowd smelt victory.
As the Combe pack tired, TJs upped the pace and spread the ball wide on the left wing. Murray Galbraith-Lowe took advantage of some sweet TJ hands to crash over and get his side within striking distance.
A second yellow was awarded to one of Combe’s wingers as he high-tackled Galbraith-Lowe in the act of scoring. Again TJs looked fluent in attack and again Galbraith-Lowe clinched the vital score to take TJs to a 22-25 win.
It was another hard game for TJs, and one where their defence and team ethic again stood out. Their energy levels and desire were impressive.
The win puts TJs into the Kent Cup final, where they will face either Blackheath or Sidcup.
