Sevenoaks 5 Tonbridge Juddians 17: National League 2 East match report

By Adam Hookway

Tonbridge Juddians won a game of nip and tuck as they took the derby spoils 17-5 at Sevenoaks to go third in National League 2 East.

With the icy weather impacting elsewhere Oaks did well to get the game on but the only reward for their effort was a late consolation try.

The scoreboard remained frozen at 0-0 for the first 30 minutes with neither side able to carve out any meaningful red-zone chances. TJs probably came closest with a Tom White trademark cross kick to Hugo Watson, but the winger had strayed offside.

However it was Watson who crashed over on the left wing after TJs had upped the pace and phase play deep in Oaks territory, with Tom White converting from the touchline.

As the game moved from scrum to lineout to penalty the next 30 minutes served up much of the same. Oaks had their opportunities but couldn’t quite finish things off with the best one after a midfield intercept took them all the way to the TJ line where a scrambling defence kept them at bay.

As TJs entered the final quarter they again went looking for Watson on the left with a long pass. Watson eyed up the frozen corner and stepped inside to find three would-be tacklers to soften his landing. The ball popped out and up to Duncan Tout in support and he dived over to score. White again converted and the Tonbridge advantage was doubled.

Juddians kept their attacks coming and when Oaks offended White slotted the penalty to make it 17-0, denying the hosts any chance of a bonus-point loss.

They did have the final say when, after finding space on the right, Benjamin Adams raced in largely untouched to score from 30 metres.

Tonbridge welcome 12th-placed Canterbury to The Slade for their last game of the year on Saturday (2.30pm).