Tonbridge Juddians 26 Worthing 12: National League 2 East match report

By Adam Hookway

Tonbridge Juddians put in their best display of the season for a 26-12 National League 2 East win over top-three opponents Worthing.

In need of a barnstorming finish for a chance of a top-six place, TJs delivered in the first of their final four fixtures with a four-try win and a second-half shutout to boot.

Worthing played into a strong wind but coped well enough to open the scoring with a well-worked try after 11 minutes.

Defences dominated the early exchanges and it took 25 minutes for TJs to mount their first real foray into Worthing’s 22. The ball went left and right before Josh van Vuuren crashed over.

A feisty contest saw a yellow card for each side before both teams went down to 14 following two dismissals. Worthing, however, changed ends the happier with a try just before the half-time whistle.

After the break it took Judds five minutes to respond with backs and forwards combining well. Duncan Tout offloaded to Ryan Munnelly and he did the rest.

TJs continued to put the multi phases together and as space appeared Tom White powered through to touch down before converting the extras.

Worthing weren’t going to lie down but Tonbridge gave them no space in which to play. As full-time beckoned Reece Conlon offloaded to Tommy Nicoll for the fourth, bonus-point try with White adding the conversion.

Eighth-placed Judds visit fourth-spot Dorking on Saturday.