Mid Kent & East Sussex Merit Table A
Tonbridge Juddian IV 7 East Peckham 10
The Villagers just edged out a spirited TJ side in a dour yet nail-biting encounter in Tonbridge on Saturday. East Peckham are much reduced in number from earlier in the season but this produced a debut for wing Jamie French in his first game of senior rugby. In such a tight and important match he came out very well.
TJs had a heavier pack but Peckham’s technique held out with Simon Cathcart again pressed in at prop and doing tolerably well. Chris Masters earned his share of ball at the lineout but TJs also dominated their own throw. East Peckham actually scored when a rolling maul - despite their lack of weight – allowed flanker James Chalk to break free but he was a long way off. He outpaced the cover defence and with scrum half Marc Wright for company he was able to dummy the full back and go over. Fly half Lee Walker converted well in the wind. This galvanised TJs into attack but the Villagers defended strongly with back rowers Steve Guthrie, Masters and Chalk and centres Will Russell and Tim Shave tackling hard in particular. Half backs Wright and Walker made two very good breaks but could not get the ball away and wing Ben Viney was always threatening.
In the second half it was more of the same as TJs could not cross the visitors’ line. In an excursion now becoming rarer Peckham gained a penalty kicked by Viney as Walker had departed with a muscle strain and this turned out to be crucial for shortly afterwards having failed with a drive into the left corner TJs flung the ball wide and scored through their backs on the right wing then converting superbly to set up a thrilling finish. Peckham repelled everything and as the clock wound down Shave had only to boot the ball off the field but in trying to place it failed to find touch. TJs left wing gathered and kicked a steepler for full back Chris Altomstone who had just taken a knock making a try saving tackle. He succeeded in getting in position but knocked on and TJs had an attacking scrum under the posts. With one final effort the entire Villager pack heaved and took one against the head thanks to skipper Chris Reeves and this time the ball was thumped off the park.
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