A WARM WELCOME TO TONBRIDGE JUDDIAN RFC
According to the AA Route Planner, it is a 17 minutes journey of 7.2 miles between The Paddock and The Slade but, until recently, a near continental divide in rugby terms between The Oaks and TJs.
It is with much anticipation and pride that once again, after a 12 year hiatus, we can host our most local rugby friends and rivals for a 1st XV match. All our other teams, from 2nd XV down to the Under 6s have locked horns over the ensuing seasons, so it’s not as though we don’t know each other well. With that recent history in mind, we extend the warmest welcome to everyone involved with Tonbridge Juddian RFC.
Right from our formation in 1925, we had strong ties with Tonbridge, whose own history goes back to 1904. Our association with Old Juddian, formed in 1928, was more recent, beginning in the early 70s. The merger between these two clubs, thus becoming Tonbridge Juddian RFC, was achieved in 1999.
Prior to the unification, their own local friendly rivalry was intense, compounded by the fact that they both played side by side on the Tonbridge Recreation Ground, or “over the hedge” as they put it. With an approximate 25 years gap between their births, they combined their Jubilee celebrations in 1954 and again 10 years later.
When Leagues began in 1987, OJs were placed in a higher division than Tonbridge, but the town club had its Clubhouse in Avebury Avenue and immediate access to the Recreation Ground. OJ s moved from the school to The Slade in 1995, by which time the Tonbridge Clubhouse was looking decidedly rickety, to say the least. When the two clubs merged the proceeds from the sale of the Clubhouse were used to develop The Slade and town rugby in general.
After some seasons of smoothing out after the merger, TJs decided to pursue higher status and brought in top notch semi-professional talent. Promotions were inevitable and the ambition to achieve National League status was achieved in 2015. One further step up the ladder to Level 3 was gained in 2020. Now back in Level 4, TJs continue as a force to be reckoned with.
Our Leagues record against the merged TJs is won 4 and lost 5, with the last match played at The Slade in February 2010. For added spice to our rivalry, we contest the Crum-Ewing Rugby Ball Trophy. The winner is the team with the highest points aggregate after the two matches in the season. The Oaks last won it in 2005, but lost out when the clubs met again in 2010. The trophy resides safely with TJs, but wouldn’t it be good to see that little ball back at SRFC?
Howard Pearl
Other National League 2 East Division matches being played today:
Barnes v Old Albanian Bury St Edmunds v Guernsey
Canterbury v Henley Dorking v Westcliff
Rochford Hundred v North Walsham Worthing v Blackheath