TJs were in festive mood for their last N2E game of the season as they handed out a few too many presents to near Kent rivals Canterbury on Saturday. Despite winning the try count 4-3 TJs found it hard to control the ball against a committed Canterbury squad.
Despite a strong start things quickly went awry for TJs as they were either penalised or turned over in the loose and Canterbury opened their account with a converted try after 10 minutes. A penalty 8 minutes later as TJs continued to toil with the ball gave Canterbury a first quarter lead of 10 nil.
TJs started to rally as it was the visitor's turn to fall foul of the officials and a penalty to the corner set up a TJ catch and drive which took Tommy Nicoll over but he was adjudged to have been held up. However after some verbals between the teams and coaches the officials took their time to consult and awarded a penalty try to bring TJs back to 7-10 down.
TJs were finding more of a cutting edge despite the heavy going and after 32 minutes Luke Beaumont found a gap to charge through and after some quick recycling and a further drive the ball went left and deft hands from hooker Will Holling found Beaumont again on the outside for him to dot down and TJs edged in front 12-10 which they held on to through to half time.
A chance for both squads to rethink their approach to both ball and territory and Canterbury came out strongly with a view to having more of the ball and looking to attack a little wider. TJs had struggled to retain possession for long enough to gain significant territory as the Canterbury jacklers hunted at will.
Canterbury opted for three points when a penalty to the corner seemed on to go 12-13 in front but a few minutes later a TJ stock in trade catch and drive rumbled Will Holling over to regain the lead at 17-13 after 58 minutes.
The lead was short lived though as Canterbury found space down the left to put TJs under pressure and fly half Reynolds finished things off with a try and secured a 17-18 lead with the final quarter underway.
As TJs pressed forward the game loosened further and it was Canterbury who managed to create the better chances and a converted try appeared to have taken the game beyond reach as we entered the final 10 minutes at 17-25. Another Reynolds penalty looked to have finished the TJ effort off at 17-28 but there was more time than most realised and TJs set about piling pressure on to the Canterbury defence
As the TJ forwards powered ahead it was Elliot Luke off the bench for TJs who was bundled over and Same Evans converted to close to 24-28 but despite a glimmer of hope Canterbury were able to shut down the game in the final minute and celebrated the double over TJs in the league this season.
TJs missed out again in a narrow loss but secured another 2 points to keep them in 7th place in the table. The seasonal break and the arrival of a new Director of Rugby, Jordan Turner Hall, will hopefully enable TJs to start 2024 off with a win as next up ar North Walsham at The Slade on 6th January KO 2.30pm