Tonbridge Juddians 29 Leeds Tykes 27: National League 1 match report

Tonbridge Juddians put on a show for their supporters at The Slade against fellow strugglers Leeds Tykes on Saturday.

Despite TJs' fate already being sealed at the bottom of National League 1, they ran out 29-27 winners in a dramatic finale against a Leeds side who needed to win to keep their survival hopes alive.

The away side started the stronger, making the most of an early mistake from TJs and piling on the pressure at the line-out.

A couple of penalties and a strong driving maul later saw the away side dot down for the first try of the game. However, TJs hit straight back with a try of their own through Joe Duffy as the home side showed they could create havoc at the maul as well.

Ryan Taylor-Dennehy converted the try from the touchline and suddenly TJs had retaken the lead. This spurred the home side on and they continued to dominate territory as well as possession in the first half.

TJs consistently looked to use the maul as a weapon and got great joy out of it. Eventually resulting in another goalline stand where Leeds looked to cling on. TJs stayed patient and worked it wide to Kyle McGhie who dotted down for his first try in a TJs shirt in the corner.

The home side would not stop there as they looked to put the game to bed before half-time. Ryan Jackson made a searing break up the middle to see his side into the 22. TJs worked well to hold onto possession under a lot of pressure from an always tenacious Leeds defence.

However, the away side could do nothing stop the onrushing waves of attack. Eventually it would be centre, Duncan Tout, who finished the move off under the posts. On the half-time whistle Taylor-Dennehy slotted the conversion to make the score 21-5.

It would be a long way back for Leeds but with