Clements hat-trick not enough as Reds slip to another defeat

After a second minute penalty from Robinson and a further successful effort with the boot the first try of the afternoon came midway through the first half when the visitors won the line-out and set up a rolling maul. When the ball was let out a gap on the left allowed winger James Clements to cross for a try which fly-half Ashley Groves converted to nudge his side a point in front. Further successful penalties from Robinson, shortly after Reds try and just before half time, and despite three points from the boot of Groves, meant that TJs took a narrow 12 – 10 lead into the break. If Old Reds first-half handling had been a little more accurate they would have been in front at the turnaround.

Into the second half and TJs were penalised for wheeling a scrum whilst being pushed backwards. This gave Old Reds a good attacking position and with ball in hand they moved quickly from right to left where Clements went over for his second try which Groves converted. The home side replied with a catch and drive finished by Tom Nicholl who joined a rolling maul, Reds a man down to a yellow card. From an attacking scrum Old Reds won more good ball and the dangerous backs worked it wide to wing Ed Boxall who touched down in the corner for an unconverted try. The Juddians responded with more powerful forward play and attacked Redcliffians line with short drives but were held up. Robinson finally tried a chip-kick over the defence and the ball bounced into the in-goal area off the posts, defeating Reds cover and Finn Coxon-Smith touched down for TJ's second try. Robinson converted and with the score now at 26 – 22 and Tonbridge were back in the lead.

However, Reds were not done for and Clements went over to complete his hat trick following a good attack and some fast accurate passing that created an overlap for him to touch down in the corner, but the missed touchline conversion allowed Robinson’s boot to give TJ’s the lead with a penalty for offside with a minute to play. Reds missed a long range penalty to win, the effort falling short, with the final kick of an enthralling encounter and had to be content with two losing bonus points in a game that could have produced much more.

Scorers:
Tonbridge Juddians
Tries: Tom Nicholl, Finlay Coxon-Smith
Conversions: Will Robinson (2)
Penalties: Will Robinson (5)

Old Redcliffians
Tries: James Clements (3), Ed Boxall
Conversions: Ash Groves (2)
Penalty: Ash Groves

Old Redcliffians:
Craig Owen, James Clements, Jermaine Jones, Christian Gervais, Ed Boxall, Ash Groves, Dominic Sprague, Jake Caulfield, Kieran Ward, Alex Harvey, Chris Pursall, Corey Talbot, Pat Zindi, Dan Fry, Ethan Doyle
Replacements: Ellis Joseph, James Floss, George Kloska, Luc Jones, Kieran Hill