TJs headed to the Big Field to take on second placed Dorking hoping to keep their excellent form going. And whilst they showed glimpses of the power and pace of recent weeks it was Dorking who edged the result with a penalty goal making all the difference.
TJs played up the slope in the first half and both sides were hampered by a strong cross wind that refused to be tamed by any of the kickers.
Although Dorking took an early lead with a well worked try it was then all TJs as far as the scoreboard was concerned. Howard Packman finished off a powerful break by Shadyn Osgood to go over under the sticks on 16 minutes and Tom White converted to give TJs a 5-7 lead.
Whilst Dorking threatened, and the whistle often blew, they couldn't find their way to the TJ try line and it was TJs who scored the next try as Luca Petrozzi sniped from scrum half to go over on 21 minutes and again White converted to extend TJs lead.
And TJs weren't done for the half as the forwards drove forward before the ball went wide for Duncan Tout to power over from his wing and White's conversion sent TJs in with broad smile at 5-21 up.
An uphill task for Dorking then seemed on the cards, literally, but their home savvy awareness is always a factor and they set about closing the points gap immediately after the restart. Their lively centre who had both the bulk and off the mark pace to cause the TJ defence difficulties benefitted from their sprightly start. And within 10 minutes of the second half it was 19-21 and game on again.
The sides exchanged yellow cards but neither had a huge impact as the game ebbed but refused to flow as the penalty counts mounted for both sides and neither could gain dominance for long periods.
TJs went close through the forwards but were denied by inches but on 65 minutes Will Holling charged and burrowed his way over and with the White conversion TJs led 19-28. But the game was far from over as injuries and stoppages were prolonging the game and it was Dorking who found the edge to close the gap with a converted try before adding a penalty kick to make it 29-28 and 12 minutes to play.
Dorking added another converted try with three minutes left and it looked like TJs were going to leave with just a try bonus point to their name. Whilst a win was still on the cards as Duncan Tout stepped his man to score and White hurried the conversion, albeit missed, to restart the game there wasn't enough time to regain the lead at 36-33. And Dorking booted the ball off the pitch at the first opportunity to secure the win and home plaudits.
Earlier in the season 2 bonus points on the road would have been ab acceptable TJ haul for some but this squad is better than that and they will rue the ridiculously high penalty count against and a couple of attacking opportunities in the Dorking red zone that came to nought.
TJs will regroup and go again for the penultimate N2E game of their season and the last game at The Slade next Saturday. Third placed Barnes are the visitors for a 3pm KO and TJs will want to sign off at home with a performance of note