TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS 31

BISHOP'S STORTFORD 45

National 3 London/South East

COACH Pete Dankert still cannot believe Tonbridge Juddians managed to lose only their second home game of the season, despite dominating for long periods of the clash.

Bishop's Stortford have been in fine form of late, but TJs were caught out by four breakaway tries, as they wasted huge amounts of territory and possession.

Some spectators had not reached the pitch before Bishop's Stortford had registered their first score – a penalty for an offence at the first scrum.

Worse was to come. TJs dropped the ball while on the attack in Stortford's 22. Scrum-half Banks pounced and was off down the field. Full-back Winter, in support, took the pass which put him through to score between the posts.

Fly-half Coleman converted to put the visitors 10-0 ahead after 10 minutes.

TJs soon found themselves under pressure again and Harris went over in the corner. Coleman converted to leave TJs 17-0 down.

Stortford were evidently ready to play whereas TJs had barely woken up, but their forwards took the game to the visitors, keeping the ball close and progressing in short, penetrative drives. Held up once, TJs' pack stuck to the task and got close enough to Stortford's line to give prop Stanford a try, which Harding converted.

Notwithstanding TJs' resurgence, Stortford constantly threatened to counter-attack and when the hosts missed a vital tackle in the centre, room was made for winger Harris to score down the left, Coleman converting.

Within two minutes, TJs had hit back. A penalty kick to touch took them close to Stortford's line and the forwards produced a fine line-out catch-and-drive to power over for wing-forward Collins to touch down. Harding converted and TJs were on the way back.

TJs' forwards continued to batter their opponents and pressured Stortford into conceding a penalty, which Harding kicked. At half-time, TJs were just 24-17 down.

In the second half, the first disappointment was the wind had dropped in strength.

TJs started on the attack, but their handling let them down and the ball went once more to ground.

Stortford needed no second invitation and in a flash the ball was moved to winger Harris and he outpaced the cover to score halfway out on the left. Coleman converted.

TJs' backs returned to the attack and benefited from excellent support play by the forwards.

Winger Farmer showed he has lost none of his pace during his year in Australia and crossed for the try wide out on the left. Harding converted with a fine touchline kick.

Five minutes later, fly-half Rothnie fashioned a fine chip-kick for Farmer to run on to and take the defender into touch.

TJs' line-out drill worked perfectly and the catch-and-drive took the ball over the line for Collins to score again. Harding converted and TJs had clawed their way back to 31-31.

With some 20 minutes to run, the game was now up for grabs.

However, TJs were soon undone by a slick backs move that saw danger man Harris touch down.

The infallible Coleman converted and TJs' short-lived parity had vanished.

Added disappointment for TJs came a couple of minutes before the end of this pulsating game. Not for the first time, TJs dropped the ball in the centre and Stortford's backs steamed off up the field. Farmer, crossing from his left wing to the right, brought off a fine tackle, but Child was in support and scored the try.

Once more, Coleman converted bringing his personal total to 15 points – one penalty and six conversions – having missed nothing.