By Adam Hookway

Five first-half tries put Tonbridge Juddians in charge as they returned from Worthing with a 43-33 National League 2 East win.

The two sides served up 11 scores in all, Judds claiming six, and they held on to their lead despite a red card in the final quarter.

Tonbridge came out of the blocks quickest, Howard Packman on the left opening the scoring after six minutes. Sam Evans converted and from the restart Worthing somehow managed to find Packman as their speculative pass fell to ground and he kicked through to dot down. Evans again added the extras for a 14-0 lead.

Restarts have been something of an Achilles heel for TJs this season and they soon coughed up the ball in defence. From a quick tap the hosts were through and over to open their own account.

A converted Worthing score reduced the gap to two points but Judds immediately hit back, Charlie Self bundled over from a lineout drive and Evans doing the rest from the tee.

When Tonbridge impeded Worthing’s winger in full flight they were awarded a penalty try to once move within two points, and, again, the visitors responded. Firstly through Will Holling and then via Alex Brown - Evans converting the latter score - to change ends 33-19 to the good.

Worthing clearly had the extra sugars at the break as they threw themselves into the fray in the second half and two converted scores wiped out Judds’ advantage before the 50-minute mark. TJs hit back to go seven clear after their own penalty try and an Evans penalty increased the buffer to 10 with 20 minutes left.

That was the end of the scoring, but not the drama, and with 15 minutes to go Tonbridge’s Perry John Parker saw red. They held on, though, and sit seventh ahead of Saturday’s home game against league leaders Dorking (2.30pm).