Sevenoaks Rugby 24 - 22 Tonbridge Juddians RFC
Derbies have their own quality and when two teams trace their rivalry as far back as Sevenoaks and TJs do, there’s always an extra edge.
So this match was an highly intense encounter where both teams, contributed to an amazing high octane spectacle.
Oaks edged out 24-22 victors on the basis of outstanding defending in the final 10 minutes of the match when TJs sieged the Oaks line.
In fact the second half featured just two tries;the first a well worked effort that saw Henry Galligan collect a special kick and then dot it down from Oaks Man of the Match Ben Adams, which Adams duly converted.
The second was a catch and drive from a TJs lineout that resulted in Will Holling charging over the line to secure the try for the visitors. So the conversion was missed and at that stage Oaks held a narrow two point lead and with a good 20 minutes to go, you felt there were points that either team would secure. But that was it and Oaks held on.
The first half was more open as the two teams exchanged salvos to enter the sheds 17-17.
There was a huge attendance in place to enjoy a cracking spectacle.
TJs opened procedures through a try from Captain Tommy Nicoll that Tom White converted.
Oaks responded swiftly as Tom Simmons barrelled over for a try that Ben Adams converted. An Oaks try by Barney Stone also converted by Adams and one Shadyn Osgood for TJs just under the posts that White converted meant that, alongside a penalty each, the teams entered the sheds all square at 17-17.
Huge credit to both squads for a match that delivered in every respect, and also to the officials who kept the game flowing.
This Saturday the Oaks 1st XV travels to top of the league Esher, 3:00pm KO.
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HT 17-17
FT 24 - 22
Sevenoaks Scorers
12 James Simmons T Ben Adams Con
30 Barney Stone T Adams Con
34 Adams P
45 Henry Galligan Adams C
TJs scorers
5 Tommy Nicoll T Tom White Conversion
13 pen White
38 Shadyn Osgood T White C
56 Ben Holling Try
Man of the match Ben Adams
Attendance 845
