Tonbridge Juddians 31 Old Albanians 5: National League 2 East match report
Published: 09:04, 16 January 2023
Updated: 09:05, 16 January 2023
By Adam Hookway
Tonbridge Juddians eased to a 31-5 victory against Old Albanians in National League 2 East.
Despite all the recent rain the game wasn’t full of flowing rugby, but TJs did enough to secure an important win at home.
In such heavy going it tends to be the power of the pack that decides the outcome and TJs were on top in that department for long periods, despite Toby Freeman receiving a yellow card after 15 minutes.
Neither side could cross the whitewash despite their best efforts until 30 minutes had been played. Tonbridge, with the breeze at their backs, enjoyed more of the territory and ball and finally found an inside pass from Tom White to Bryan Hotston for the winger to speed over with White converting.
Half-time arrived with no further score and it took the hosts eight second-half minutes before Josh Groocock crashed over from short range, with White again converting.
Academy product Jake Hardcastle smashed over in the 67th minute and White was again on target. The Old Boys managed a try of their own, but TJs weren’t going to let their lead slip with a bonus-point win on offer.
OAs made them wait, though, before Charlie Self was bundled over for a fourth try in the closing minutes with White again converting. White rounded off the scoring with a final penalty goal.
Juddians, in sixth, visit ninth-placed Guernsey on Saturday.
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KentOnline reporter