It was another grey days at The Slade but the TJ performance alongside a never going to give it up attitude from Old Albanians served up a treat of a game for the supporters.
OAs were out of the blocks fast and it looked like TJ minds were still in the changing rooms as OAs slotted an early penalty and followed up with an unconverted try after just 5 minutes. TJs lost Isaac Ridge to a shoulder injury just before OAs scored their try and things were a tad bleak for the home side. Fortunately though TJs roused themselves with the help pf a bolt down the left from Will Holling before the ball was swung right where Sam Blade was able to shrug off a tackle or two to cross for TJs first try.
OAs though added a further penalty to make it 5-11 before TJs hit a purple patch where firstly Duncan Tout went close but lost the ball as he dived over the line only to be granted a reprieve shortly afterwards as after some initial softening up of the OAs defence the ball was thrown right where Tout was able to stroll over.
From the restart TJs burst through a for once weak OAs defence and Connor Lloyd finished things off under the sticks and with White's conversions TJs were finally in front at 16-11 after 26 minutes.
The try bonus point was secured on 33 minutes as OAs swung left in search of a gap but the ever-young Tom White intercepted and sprinted 35 before stumbling over the try line to score. White missed the conversion but TJs led 24-11 and it stayed that way through to half time
OAs were certainly in the fight still and TJs had shrugged off their initial inertia to regain the lead. Things were set up for a feisty second half
TJs extended their lead through a Hugo Culverhouse try 6 minutes into the second half and Connor Lloyd converted to make it 31-11. But OAs were not done yet and they hit back with two tries of their own but both went unconverted to make it 31-21 with plenty of time left in the game.
TJs were perhaps feeling the pressure a little and opted for a Connor Lloyd penalty to take then to 34-21 with 20 minutes on the clock but the pressure was back on after Sam Blade received a Yellow Card and TJs could have been on the back foot.
But OAs saw Yellow themselves a few minutes later and as TJs pinned OAs in their own half they upped the power and pace to create a try-scoring position for Harrison Sims to pile over for a 6th try with just 5 minutes left on the clock. Sam Evans converted to make it 41-21
OAs kept on coming through and to their credit they deserved the last minute try bonus point as they forced their way over for a converted try to make the final score 41-28
The win made it 10 maximum points win from 10 for TJs and they remain top of N2E - next up are Bury St Edmunds away and a 3pm KO on 23rd November