THE last time Tonbridge Juddians visited Dorking, in 2014, they suffered a never-to-be–forgotten 93-14 annihilation.
Last Saturday’s match proved a chance for top-of-the-table TJs to redressing the balance, with the Surrey team rebuilding their squad following last season’s relegation from National Two South. They duly achieved their revenge.
The first score of the game came from one of Tonbridge’s earliest spells of possession. Murray Galbraith-Lowe came in off his right wing to take a simple inside pass in the centre. He proved fast enough to break through to score, with Liam -Prescott converting.
TJs dominated the scrums but Dorking were good enough to win and distribute scrum-ball under pressure. They also continued to run and pass the ball and threaten but they could not penetrate Juddians’ cover. However, the home side did take full advantage of a penalty.
In response, Prescott added a TJ penalty before No 8 Zain van Rensburg, who had a powerful game, broke through the first line of Dorking’s defence and found centre Tom Nicoll on hand for a scoring pass. Once again Prescott converted.
TJs started the second half on the attack with some slick handling. Following a five-metre scrum, they went through a number of phases of pick-and-drive play and finally got over the line courtesy of new-boy Rhys Hartley, who touched the ball down.
Just six minutes later, very close on Dorking’s line, TJs forced a penalty out of the defenders. It was taken quickly by Hartley, and with the -defenders in some disarray scrum-half Will Ward took his pass and scored under the posts. Prescott added the conversion points.
Soon after, Van Rensburg made a yet another powerful run down the right side of the field. When he was stopped, the ball was quickly -recycled left until it reached flanker Richie Bent, who had a player to pass to on his outside.
However, he decided he had the speed and strength to reach the line on his own and he did just that. Prescott converted with a fine kick from the touchline to make it 36-6.
Dorking managed two late consolation tries, but the final score gave TJs a three-point gap at the top of National Three London & South East as results elsewhere went their way.
Coach Pete Dankert welcomed the positive result, but said the team had to work on their intensity and discipline when the game seems to be won.
