AFTER their impressive victory over the runaway leaders of National Two South, Tonbridge Juddians travelled to the Channel Islands to inflict defeat on the bottom club.
TJs took advantage of a missed knock-on to kick to the corner from where they created a first try through Duncan Tout after seven minutes, Will Robinson converting.
Guernsey were dominating possession but when a kick was fielded by full-back Toby May, he was supported by winger Murray Galbraith-Lowe and scrum-half Charlie Edwards crossed a try which Robinson converted.
A similar move just a few minutes later came to an end just a metre from the line with a knock-on. From a quickly taken penalty Edwards did a dummy pass and his quick feet took him over the line, Robinson again converting.
The Raiders still had most of the ball and finally managed to get on the scoreboard with an unconverted try. But TJs restored their lead with a third try from Edwards just before the break,
Robinson added the extras again, making it four tries, four conversions and a bonus point for TJs by half-time and putting them in a very strong position.
The second half proved a different matter. TJs’ ability to contain the home side’s attack was less effective and they conceded penalties while playing on the back foot.
Guernsey crossed for two more tries but could only convert one of them, making the score 17-28 and increasing the pressure on TJs.
But the visitors sealed victory when Robinson made a fine break from a rare period of possession and passed through Guernsey’s first line of defence.
His pass reached the flying Finlay Coxon-Smith who bumped away a couple of tacklers and to score under the posts.
Robinson completed his 100 per cent conversion rate with the last kick of the game.
TJs remain in third place in the table and have a rest next week, when they will await with interest the outcome of Henley against Taunton Titans, the teams in fifth and fourth place within two points of them.
Tonbridge return to league action when they travel away to Old Redcliffians in Bristol on Saturday March 2 [kick-off 2.30pm].
