Sevenoaks Rugby 17 - 24 Tonbridge Juddians RFC

Tonbridge Juddians ground out a solid 24-17 victory against a tenacious Sevenoaks Rugby in this high octane local Kent derby. Ultimately TJs benefitted from more composure and more quality. Nevertheless, Oaks had their say and when full back Ben Adams intercepted from just outside the Oaks try line and ran the length of the pitch for a try that he then converted, Oaks were 17-12 ahead with a quarter of the match to go.

Shortly after his try, Adams, with TJs knocking on the door of the Oaks try line, was adjudicated to have deliberately knocked the ball on, and he was invited to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin. TJs took advantage of the one man surplus, and pressed and pressed the Oaks line, to secure the try through scrum half Matt Walsh which Sam Evans converted. TJs then again found space from a set piece and Duncan Tout carved his way through the midfield to secure the winning try.

Despite Oaks coming back into the game in the final ten minutes, and almost securing a try that would have properly pegged TJs back, the visitors held on for the bonus point win. There is a huge gulf in the National Two East table between these two sides, so it was an impressive losing bonus point that Oaks secured by ending up within 7 points of their table-topping local rivals.

The first half involved a huge amount of TJs pressure and possession for less capital than they might have hoped. TJs struck first and within ten minutes went over close to the posts. You expected TJs to then execute better through the relentless phase play but in fact it was Oaks that went over the line next. Sam Begbie jinked through from the outside channel. Adams got the conversion and Oaks were 7-5 to the good for a short spell before TJs replied with a try from close quarters by Matt Walsh which Evan’s converted to take the teams into the sheds with TJs holding a 12-7 advantage. Oaks came out with a huge amount of energy in the second half and secured the first points.

This was a cracking encounter and huge credit to both sides for the positive spirit in which the local derby was played.

Sevenoaks Rugby: Simmons. J; Sedgwick ©; Simmons. T; Lee; Southon; Green; Johnson; Cambier. Jones; Begbie; Mokuolo; Hicen; Shirtcliff; May; Adams. Strainge; Rolfe; Signorini; Richardson; Horner.

Tonbridge Juddians RFC: Whitmarsh; Mutch; Bratton; Self; Merrick; Duabe; Nicoll ©; Culverhouse. Walsh; White; Kendrick; Tout; Osgood; Blade; Evans. Ridge; Lloyd; Tusler.

Referee: Simon Waite, RFU National Panel. Asst Referee 1: Phil Bowers. Asst Referee 2 Andre Van Zyl. Fourth officials: Glann Waltham, Grant Scandling.

Half time Sevenoaks Rugby 7 – 12 Tonbridge Juddians RFC

Full time Sevenoaks Rugby 17 – 24 Tonbridge Juddians RFC

Sevenoaks RFC Scorers:

17’ Sam Begbie T Ben Adams C

52’ Ben Adams P

56’ Ben Adams T Ben Adams C

Tonbridge Juddians RFC Scorers:

8’ Tom Kendrick T

21’ Matt Walsh T Sam Evans C

63’ Matt Walsh T Sam Evans C

67’ Duncan Tout T

Man of the Match: Zach Johnson