This type of game is becoming something of a norm for Tjs in National 1 and every metre, every point and every benefit is hard earned and this was a bruising battle for two excellent squads with Tjs grabbing victory in the final few minutes.
Both sides started slowly and grew into the game to provide an exciting game of both pace and power with the lead changing hands a number of times as both sides fortunes ebbed and flowed.
Tjs opened the scoring when Connor Lloyd, who had a fantastic game, sped through the gap to send Matthew Engelbrecht over for his first try. Lloyd missed the conversion and TJs led after 5 minutes. Dings started to put the pressure on the TJ defence, using their big ball carrying forward well on the wings as they searched for an opening. It took them 15 minutes to find it and they took the lead at 5-7
From the restart Dings chased their kick poorly and allowed Tom Mannix to catch and step through their defence to send Connor Lloyd in from 30m to score and convert and Tjs were back in front at 12-7.
Short-lived though as Dings applied more pressure to the Tj line that saw Vince Everitt carded and Dings go back in front with a converted try. But it was Tjs again from the next restart as on-loan Tom Kendrick popped up in the middle from his wing position to make a hole. Dings were penalised and Lloyd taped and went to feed Jack Walsh down the right who fed Harrison Langworthy on the inside and the No 8 galloped over to make it 19-14 to Tjs
Engelbrecht added his second try a few minutes later after Dings had conceded a number of penalties to earn a yellow card and TJs led 26-14 and the half coming to an end. However Tjs fancied their chances of running out of their 22m with the extra man but they were turned over resulting in a penalty to the corner where the Dings forwards caught and drove over to close the half at 26-21
Dings started the second half piling all sorts of pressure onto Tjs and the penalty count grew resulting in a yellow card for Oscar Waite. Tjs kept Dings at bay with some terrific defence but it eventually had to give and Dings edged in front 26-28. Dings continued to pile into the Tj defence but they couldn't get round or through and when Tjs did escape upfield Lloyd took the 3 points on offer and made it 29-28 in Tjs favour around the hour-mark
Dings crashed over a few minutes later and Tjs had to dig deep to up the pace and power as they started to turn the physical battle in their favour. As they pummelled the Dings line the defence flew in with some huge hits but Tjs kept the ball well and eventually the ball was flung wide to Jack Walsh to dot down in the corner and Tjs were back in front at 34-33
Once again Dings were allowed to get close to the Tj line and a simple pass down the short side from a 5m scrum base took them in front at 34-38 with three minutes to go. Done deal for some but not for Tjs as first Tom Kendrick pounded down the left. The ball went right where Walsh had a dash. And as Dings tried to halt the Tj wave they offended again and Lloyd, in perpetual motion all game, tapped and dodged to go in under the sticks. His conversion made it 41-38
Tjs secured the restart and kept the ball for the remaining seconds before hoofing it out to claim maximum points to leave them joint top of the table after 5 rounds. Tjs head to Bishop's Stortford next Saturday and a 3pm KO