By Adam Hookway

Leaders Tonbridge Juddians suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, going down 29-28 at Old Albanian in National League 2 East.

However they increased their lead by a point after nearest rivals Barnes missed the chance to go top, losing 24-19 to Westcombe Park.

The Old Boys, having lost just once in their last eight games, came out firing but could not find a way through. Time and again they were repelled and for 20 minutes that was pretty much the story.

As is often the way, Connor Lloyd was the spark for Tonbridge with his speed of thought and boot and on the half-hour mark a tap and dart was all too quick for the home defence and Lloyd was over the line in a flash. Sam Evans converted.

The hosts were gifted a try of their own from the restart, but Shadyn Osgood finished off a forceful attack in the left corner just before the break and Evans added the extras once again.

Albanian claimed the first try of the second half to trail by two points but Duncan Tout and then Lloyd with his second - both scores converted - put TJs 28-12 up. That was as good as it got for them, though.

A 70-metre run plus the extras put Albanian seven points closer with 15 minutes still to play. Three more points were added from the tee, and with Judds’ Maciu Nabogi in the sin-bin the hosts manufactured another converted try to take a lead they kept.

Tonbridge welcome ninth-placed Bury St Edmunds to The Slade this Saturday.