Tjs, and to some extent the visitors too, will have been pinching themselves at full time after a pulsating game of rugby with both sides scoring 8 tries each and leaving it to the kickers to make up the points to give Tjs their third win on the bounce and Cam their third loss.
Cam had been relegated from The Champ last season with just the one win to their name. Two defeats in National 1 to start and they must have been thinking that losing streak was over as they found the leakiest Tj defence for some time.
Cam scored first after 6 minutes before Jack Walsh sped over on the wing and Connor Lloyd converted to give Tjs a 7-5 lead. From the restart Cambridge ran through to score again before forcing themselves over for another after Steffan James had been carded trying to stem the tide.
Cam scored again soon after and whilst Tjs hit back with a Matthew Engelbrecht after 20 minutes they were trailing to a buoyant Cam 14-31 after just 20 minutes.
Tjs clawed their way back to earn a try bonus point as Alfie Scopes drove over from close range and right on half time Will Holling scored at the back of a driving maul. Cam though had added another converted try and the half time saw them leading 26-38
The touchline chatter was unconvincing from both sets of supporters and all results were still possible but Tjs surely had to close the gaps if Cam weren't going to romp away with it
Tjs clearly had some extra sugar in their half time tea and within a minute of the restart Tom Mannix sped over in the right corner. Five minutes later Matthew Englebrecht added his second, again down the right, and on 50 Minutes Connor Lloyd raced away, again on the right, to score and convert and suddenly Tjs were in front 45-36 and the touchline punditry had gone up a notch in their favour.
Cam hit back with a converted try of their own to make it 45-45 before George Merrick saw Yellow for Tjs. With both sides unable to take control the scoreboard took a rest until the 76th minute when Cam earned their first Yellow card and Jack Walsh scored and with Lloyd adding a penalty straight afterwards Tjs led 53-45c. Cam were now out of losing bonus point territory and wondering how things had ended up that way.
A final minute penalty gave them a chance of that bonus point but the ball hit the upright and stayed out. Somewhat fittingly for this game however Cam regained the ball and spun it right to go over for the try and they converted from the touchline for a final score of 53-52
A thrilling game for any neutrals and a nervy ride for everyone else. Tjs will be delighted with 3 wins from 3 to date and they head to fellow league leaders Sale FC next Saturday and a 3pm KO