Tonbridge Juddians 5 Old Dunstonians 35
Report from Geoff Pettitt
Last Saturday TJs continued their depressing run of seven league defeats by losing to visitors Old Dunstonians. The team was once again notably short of experienced players. Along with a number of second team players there were others out of position: one wing- forward playing lock, another playing centre and a No 8 playing at scrum half.
The game was very even, if scrappy and untidy, at the start with TJs competing well in the tight and in the loose. It was regrettable therefore that after about 15 minutes they conceded two soft penalties – one in the front row and one for pulling down at the line-out – which were converted by fly-half Hennessy. This gave ODs an unearned six point lead and with it the confidence to take a good grip on the game. TJs tackled and covered well but continued to be penalised which kept them very much on the back foot.
ODs eventually contrived to outnumber the hitherto sound TJ defence and scored an unconverted try in the right hand corner. To add insult to injury, just before half time, TJs gave away another try. This was the result of a defensive misunderstanding at a quick throw-in near TJ’s own line where they failed twice to clear the ball into touch. Such unnecessary adventure so deep in one’s own territory by a team lacking confidence is bound to be fraught with danger. Luckily for TJs this try too went unconverted so that when the half-time break came the score stood at TJs 0 Old Dunstonians 16.
The second half started badly for the home side. A good OD move combined with some untypical poor tackling by TJs allowed left wing Bennett to score in the left hand corner. Once more Hennessey’s goal kick went astray. There followed a very bad spell for TJs. They could not hold onto the ball, came under intense pressure in the scrums and had to try to withstand a prolonged attack by ODs which, perhaps inevitably, ended with OD’s hooker Lawrence crossing under the posts. This time the two points for the conversion were taken to take the score to 0-28. Soon after this blow, further lapses in TJ’s defence let in ODs for another try which was converted.
ODs were now very much out of sight but this did not deter TJs who, perhaps urged on by a widely-held feeling that some of the referee’s decisions were and had been throughout the match bizarrely and pointedly one-sided, finally woke up. TJs swept up field and were awarded a penalty which was kicked into touch in the corner. The line-out was won and both Bournat and Ure went close to scoring with driving runs. TJs managed to keep possession of the ball and it was replacement hooker, Stevenson, who had the ball in his hands when the driving maul crossed the visitors’ line. Unfortunately for TJs their one and only conversion attempt fell short but now at least they were on the score sheet!
For the last fifteen minutes of the match TJs played the game as they should have played for the first 65 minutes - with more life and commitment and in OD’s half. Wagstaff, Bournat, Carroll and Stevenson produced some aggressive charges at the OD defence and might well have been rewarded with what would admittedly have been a consolation score. TJs had finally shown what they are capable of but it was all too little and too late. There was no further score so that at the final whistle the scoreboard read Tonbridge Juddians 5 Old Dunstonians 35.
TJs have no league match until 29th March when they travel away to league leaders Gravesend. Pride and self-respect must require that they turn out in full strength for that match.
Tonbridge Juddians: Shoebridge; O’Shea, Garner (Burgess 65), Reeves, James Farmer; Ure, Mitchell; Parrott, Kenny (Stevenson 53), Underhill, Howell, Pierce (Foster 25), Wagstaff, Bournat, Carroll.
Before the match over 100 members and guests attended TJ’s Sponsors’ Lunch at the Clubhouse where appreciation was expressed for all those whose sponsorship and advertising help to support the club. During the lunch David Allen, a former TJ player now vice-captain at Blackheath, presented the club with two shirts from his representative match appearances with England Counties and the Barbarians.
Next Sunday, 16th March 2008, Tonbridge Juddians RFC hosts the Kent County Mini Rugby Finals Festival at The Slade. This is the first time that the festival has been held in this form. It kicks off about 9.00 am and the prizes will be presented at about 1.00pm. Visitors are most welcome to come down and see the competition involving some 1700 children.
