Tonbridge Juddians 34 Old Albanians 20: National League 2 East match report

By Adam Hookway

Tonbridge Juddians did the double over Old Albanians with a 34-20 bonus-point win in National League 2 East.

With The Slade frozen, the game was switched to Judd School’s Vizards pitch for the second home match in a row - and once again Judds thrived on the 3G surface.

They took the lead after seven minutes when their forwards recycled the ball a few times before centre Duncan Tout powered over. Sam Evans converted.

OAs weren’t able to put TJs under sustained pressure as their errant kicking either went too long or straight out, but they had enough of the ball to force the hosts into a mistake and won a shot at goal after 15 minutes to close the gap.

It took a while but TJs were able to turn pressure into more points as a well-worked lineout catch and quick ball from the phases enabled Charlie Self to gather and score from close range. Evans again converted and TJs led 14-3.

The next score went the way of the visitors, however. Sharing the ball around rather than kicking, they got their reward as the half ticked towards the break, the extras closing the gap to 14-10.

Albanians started the second half well as they upped the pace, but TJs held firm and gradually turned the tables with the wind at their backs. A lineout catch-and-drive then found the backs on the angles with Shadyn Osgood in full flight. TJs scrambled the ball to the line but the referee missed the dot-down and OAs cleared.

After a collision of heads Osgood was yellow-carded, but Alex Reid went close to extending Tonbridge’s lead with a man short, only for the visitors to clear the ball again. They were powerless, though, to stop Tout after good work from Howard Packman on the left for a sublime try after 57 minutes.

The Old Boys hit back