Ward inspires Juddians’ strong fightback
T'bridge Jud 20 Henley …14
ULTIMATELY it was the home side who came out on top in a thoroughly entertaining and competitive game at the Slade.
The first quarter was a tight affair with both sides enjoying spells of possession but unable to get on the scoreboard. It took two yellow cards in quick succession for the home side to break the deadlock, with David Clements going over from a catch-and-drive for the first try of the afternoon, George Jackson added the extras.
Despite being down to 13 men, Juddians struck back immediately, with Jon McMahon finishing a lovely Murray Galbraith- Lowe break.
Injury saw Juddians temporarily down to 12 men, and Henley made the most with an Alan Awcock try under the sticks – Jackson's conversion gave the visitors a 14-5 lead.
The second half saw Tonbridge faster out of the blocks and a Will Ward try reduced the deficit.
On the hour mark a Liam Prescott penalty made it a one-point game, and the last 20 minutes provided a tense finish.
A second McMahon score with ten minutes remaining gave Tonbridge the lead for the first time in the contest, and Prescott's conversion left the scores at 20-14 to the home side. In a tense and at times desperate finish, Juddians defence saw the Slade outfit home for their third win in four games of the new campaign.
TEAMS
TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS: Galbraith-Lowe, Redman, Tout, McMahon, Ward, Holmes, Edwards, Whitmarsh, O'Sullivan, Conlon, Campbell, Colderick, Langridge, Bent, Ashmore
Replacements: Toomer, Prescott, McHugh, Bailey, Bradnam
HENLEY: Awcock, Xavier Andre, Janes, O'Neill, Robinson, Butler, Jackson, Cook, Emery, Manning, Clements, Albon, Hyde, Bell, Lowe
Replacements: White, Hadfield, Murphy, Kruzycki, Tibbatts
REFEREE: Luke Davis
ATTENDANCE: 250
Star man
Will Ward – Tonbridge
