Tonbridge hit their stride to secure bonus-point win

By GARETH WITHERS

Tonbridge J…………35

Barnes………………….22

A hugely entertaining encounter at the Slade ebbed and flowed until TJs pulled clear in the final quarter to ultimately claim a comfortable bonus-point victory.

The hosts drew first blood with a Tom White penalty, the first of 15 points for the TJs fly-half.

And before the first quarter had elapsed, he had added a score from a show and go, converted his own try and hit another penalty.

Barnes were not going to lie down, though, and bounced back to cross twice before the break, first from a catch and drive, and then by moving the ball wide.

Elliot Powell and Cameron Roberts were the tryscorers, with full-back George Makepeace-Cubitt converting one for his only kick of the game.

TJs struck twice after the break, with full-back Cam Hancock crossing for both scores.

But White’s missed conversions kept Barnes in touch, and centre Giles Bromley was on hand to reduce the deficit to just six points on the hourmark.

With ten minutes remaining, TJs finally put the game to bed with a Tom Nicoll score after a sublime chip and chase from White.

Barnes were forced to throw caution to the wind, and chipped out of their 22.

But the ball bounced kindly for replacement scrum-half Matteo Petrozzi, and he brushed off one tackler to run in unopposed. White added the extras.

There was just time for Barnes to salvage a consolation point, courtesy of a second Roberts score, but it was little more than a consolation as TJs saw out the game.