TJs took on near neighbours Oaks in this N2E R3 tie at The Slade in perfect, albeit very warm, conditions. TJs have started the season well with two wins from two whilst Oaks had yet to win but form can go out of the proverbial window when it’s a derby game. But that was far from the case as TJs ran in 7 tries, most from distance, to win again and consign Oaks to a heavy defeat
Things started well for Oaks as they pinned TJs in their own half despite TJs having the slight breeze at their backs. But Oaks could not find a cutting edge and it was TJs who escaped up field to score a first try after some solid work from the forwards and centres set up field position and second George Merrick was too big and powerful to stop. Tom White added the extras and TJs led 7-0 after 10 minutes.
Neither side could gain the upper hand for a while and the TJs lineout wasn’t firing which caused TJs to offend too often and Montgomery slotted a penalty for Oaks to make it 7-3. Both sides were getting on the wrong side of the officials and offside line way too often and both received Yellow Cards in quick succession.
The extra space was exploited best by TJs as their powerful forwards did the damage upfield before the backs combined to send flanker and TJ captain Tommy Nicoll in under the sticks. 14-0 after 26 minutes
TJs repeated the dose straight from the restart and after making ground on the left the ball came inside with the pack and scrum half Matt Walsh dummied to pass and then sniped to dot down and TJs led 21-3 after half an hour.
The writing was on the wall for Oaks already and despite a quiet end to the half with TJs adding a penalty from Tom White it felt like things might run away from them quickly if TJs were able to add some accuracy to their game.
Soon after the break TJs secured their try bonus point with a flowing move that again found Tommy Nicoll on hand to take the scoring pass and Tom White’s conversion stretched it to 31-3.
Oaks were working hard to stem the tide but they lacked the conviction of previous seasons and TJs were finding way too much room around the fringes and in the centres where Harrison Sims and Shadyn Osgood were bursting through all too easily.
Hugo Culverhouse added a well worked fifth try before Curtis Barned turned up for his seventh try in just three games and White converted to make it 43-3. Oaks had a brief respite when a speculative kick over found space and to everyone’s consternation the ball was dotted down and try awarded to make it 43-10.
TJs though had a final fling and after some incisive running in the backs Howard Packman finished things off with White converting just before the final whistle and a comprehensive TJ victory.
TJs have made a good start to their season and what on paper were three tough games have been won well. They head to Worthing next Saturday where they will hope to keep the ball going forward and a 3pm KO