TJs headed to Henley Hawks on Saturday knowing that another victory would be significant in securing top spot in N2E with just 3 games to play. Henley are always a competitive outfit and on another sunny day with a fast track they proved that again with TJs having to dig deep to come up with the win
Games at this level can be decided on small margins and for TJs a possible quick start was thwarted as a penalty to the corner missed and the field position lost. Henley capitalised and after 3 minutes they'd put TJs under pressure to dot down and lead 7-0. A few minutes later they added a penalty, TJs saw Charlie Self yellow carded and Henley add another penalty to lead 13-0 and TJs had done little.
On 20 minutes Henley also saw Yellow and shortly afterwards TJs made better use of the space to send Connor Lloyd over for an opening try that Sam Evans converted. 16-7.
TJs were immediately on the back foot and Henley pounced to add a second converted try after 25 minutes to lead 20-7 but they were never in full control as both sides were finding the dry surface a boost for willing runners amongst both backs and forwards. TJs have pace to burn at times and Curtis Barnes proved his class yet again with another hat trick the first of which came on the half hour. Josh Tusler added TJs third after 36 minutes and with Evans converting the first one TJs were back in the hunt at 20-19. And just before the break Barnes add his second try to send TJs in 20-24
The second half started swiftly again and it was Barnes to the fore as he finished off a flowing TJ move on 44 minutes and Evans converted. Tom Kendrick on the other TJ wing decided it was his time to shine and his powerful burst brushed off would be Henley tacklers for him to cross but Evans could not convert. TJs led 20-36 on the hour and the points kept coming as Shadyn Osgood charged through and over in the centre and with Evans again adding the extras TJs had opened a sizeable gap at 20-43.
TJs were though falling foul of the officials and Henley were finding space when Will Holling was yellow carded. A Henley try closed the gap to 27-43 but TJs were in no mood to let this result slip and it was great to see Mac Duaibe, on as a forwards sub plough over after a slip pass from one of the backs. Evans converted and TJs hit the 50 points mark
Henley though had the last hurrah as a slight of hand in the backfield befuddled the TJs defence and Henley scampered through to score a converted try. Full time 34-50 and another maximum points haul for TJs
DOR Jordan Turner Hall was delighted with the win - "Obviously the win was what matters but for once I felt our attack wasn't as accurate and fluid as I would like. The boys certainly delivered with another try bonus point and of course with just 2 games to go we are in the box seat. Oxford Harlequins are next up at home and they are fighting to stay up so we can expect yet another hard game before going to Dorking for the final game. It would be nice to wrap things up next Saturday in front of our home fans for sure and make it a Super Saturday'