TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS finished their hugely successful campaign in National Two South with a 13th successive victory which secured third place in the division, just outside the playoff berth.
The Bees had already been relegated, but after half an hour they found themselves 14-0 up with TJs unable to threaten the scoreboard.
TJs finally got hold of the ball and some excellent phase play allowed Toby May to support in the centre and go through under the posts, Will Robinson converting.
The kick-off went straight out in the strong wind, and a TJ break down the left by winger Hugo Watson saw the flying Finlay Coxon-Smith in support.
He showed his strength to hold off defenders and reach over the line to score TJs’ second try. Robinson converted and again and the visitors went in level at half-time.
TJs kept up the pressure in the second half and from a line-out the pack drove a maul over the line for lively hooker Ryan Jackson to score.
Robinson converted with his superbly judged kick curling sharply in with the wind.
Then the Bees’ No 6 was red-carded for a punch and from the next series of plays Charlie Edwards reached No 8 Will Colderick, who dived over for a fourth try.
Robinson’s judgement of the wind was again right on the mark for the conversion.
The Bees hit back with an unconverted try before a break by centre Duncan Tout and a helping hand from May ended with winger Watson handing off his opponent to touch down, the impeccable Robinson adding the extras.
A long move from deep involving many TJ players ended with a converted try for the hard-tackling flanker Truman Sullivan.
Then centre Tom Nicol broke through and was hauled down short of the line. The ball spun out to winger Watson to record his second try, which was not converted.
The resilient Bees launched one last attack and were rewarded with an unconverted try.
TJs had showed resilience in coming from behind to win and the flair to take advantage of their own scoring opportunities.
It was a fitting end to an outstanding season for the Tonbridge side, in which they won 25 of their 30 matches.
They finished just one point behind runners-up Canterbury, who play Chester of National Two North on Saturday [May 4] to determine who will be promoted to National One.
