IT HAVING been several years since the two clubs met in league competition, TJs' intentions in this London 4 South East game could not have been clearer. Before many of the spectators had made their way to the touchline, captain Finlayson-Green had crossed for a try and Wolmarans had converted it.

It did not continue thus. In five minutes East Grinstead had replied with a penalty.

Fifteen minutes in, East Grinstead second-row forward Peaty was yellow-carded for punching. Surprisingly, for so early in the game, TJs did not kick the simple penalty nor did they opt to kick to touch in the corner. The attempt to run the ball over the line did not succeed.

Yellow card number two was handed to TJs prop Ambrose for allegedly punching his opponent as the scrum was set. Unusually, there was no scrum for the whole of the 10 minutes he was watching proceedings from behind the posts.

East Grinstead took advantage from his misdemeanour with Bauer kicking the penalty. The three points moved them up to their closest position of the match at 7–6.

Meanwhile, TJs were far too inclined to rush into attack mode, often trying to off-load in the tackle with fancy passes. Wolmarans steadied the ship with a good try, unconverted, following a line-out win and determined recycling.

East Grinstead's Allen earned the third yellow card of the match after a high tackle and for a few minutes both teams were playing with 14 men.

TJs wasted more opportunities in the harum-scarum period that followed. On one occasion they were camped in East Grinstead's 22 and pressed hard. They forced successive penalties, but again they ran the ball from close in and in the hectic scramble to turn position into points they lost possession.

The frantic play continued up to half-time with both sides playing at top speed and with plenty of dash, but to little effect. At last, TJs scrum-half Knuckey, showing a fine turn of speed, completed a slick passing movement to score in the left corner, Wolmarans converting.

At half-time TJs had pulled away to create a comfortable cushion at 19–6. But they had made far too many mistakes to be entirely satisfied. It was not necessary to run the ball and try to score at every opportunity.

They had also found East Grinstead in uncompromising mood, and they had closed the gap immediately after half-time with their third penalty from Bauer before TJs winger Burgess pounced on a spilled East Grinstead pass and sped away untouched to score between the posts.

TJs were now in top gear. Knuckey was quick round the scrum to catch his opposite number in possession. The ball bounced loose and it was wing-forward Gordon who picked up to score.

Gordon also scored the next try. After East Grinstead failed to reach touch with what would have been a relieving penalty, the ball reached him on about the halfway line in the middle of the field. Bursting through the first couple of attempted tackles, he found himself still with the cover defence to beat. The most outrageous dummy sent the would-be tackler the wrong way and he cantered over between the posts.

A long period of TJs pressure culminated in a second try for fly-half Wolmarans, converted by him as well as two of the other tries in this spell to take TJs to a lead of 45–9.

The last quarter of the game saw the pace slow down, but Biutiviti crossed spectacularly for a try, which Wolmarans converted.

East Grinstead scored last. As a result of a series of penalties, free-kicks and 10-metre progressions, they had kept TJs on the defensive. The pressure told and a gap in the centre opened up for centre Carr to score, Bauer converting.

Squad: Ventin, Burgess, Biutiviti, Clayton, Hellyer, Wolmarans, Knuckey, Evans, Stoor, Ambrose, Carroll, Chandler, Gordon, Finlayson-Green (capt), Meyer. Subs used: Underhill, Tanner, Oliver.

For tomorrow's (Saturday), league match, Tonbridge Juddians travel to Crowborough, always a sticky place to play.

They will be looking for fewer errors and penalties and better ball retention.

Tonbridge Juddians' second string were pleased with a 14-14 draw at home against Beckenham II, and in a trio of games against Maidstone, TJs' thirds won 19-10, the fourths went down 29-0 and the fifths won 48-5.