Tjs were on the road again at a sunny but very blustery Bishop's Stortford for yet another titanic battle that Tjs again came through to win by yet another narrow margin.
Tjs started the day unbeaten and that brings a degree of self-confidence which was shown after 5 minutes when Stortford were penalised in their own 22m and Oscar Waite tapped and strolled in for a try when most would have expected the livewire Connor Lloyd to have done that from scrum half. As it was Lloyd converted and Tjs lead 0-7.
Tjs lead though was short-lived though as Stortford put them under pressure from the restart and they forced their way over to score and close to 5-7. Tjs struggled to get out of their own half at times and when they were turned over trying to runt it out their hosts spread it wide and right to take the lead 12-7 after 15 minutes. A third try two minutes later stretched their lead to 17-7 and Stortford were proving a tad too hot to handle.
Tjs though stuck to their task and started to turn the pressure tables on Stortford and after a couple of penalties to touch the ball was spread wide to the left and against the wind for Sam Morton-Smith to glide home for his first try to close to 17-12. A soft penalty conceded shortly afterwards allowed Stortford to edge to 20-12 after half an hour.
Tjs though finished the half well as first Harrison Langworthy was sent bulldozing into and through the opposition defence to take three tacklers with him to score. And with Stortford again getting the wrong side of the officials it was Connor Lloyd who was driven over and Tjs went in 20-22 in the lead at the break.
The second half started somewhat oddly as Stortford's ill discipline earned them a yellow card and from the resulting scrum choice Tjs got the upper hand, were awarded a penalty and Lloyd sniped to score. However on appeal the penalty was rescinded and the scrum reset and Stortford cleared their lines in buoyant fashion.
However that was short-lived as they themselves erred in trying to run from too deep and the Tj pressure saw Lloyd intercept and dart in to stretch the Tj lead to 22-29. Stortford continued to misjudge the wind and decision-making in their own half and as Tjs spread the ball wide and left again it was Morton-Smith who glided round and over. Lloyd converted from the touchline and Tjs led 20-36 after 50 minutes.
Stortford were now stung into action and their errant kicking replaced with some impressive running lines. Space opened up and they ran in to score to close to 27-36.
Tjs looked to bolt things down and keep Stortford at bay in their own half. But when turning the defence is an option they prefer to spread the ball to stretch and cause the defence to retreat and for a period that was all good. But it only takes a slip or a turnover and attack turns to defence in a blink. And with 10 minutes left that's what happened as Stortford escaped upfield to score to make it 32-36
Next score wins and Stortford must have felt that it was coming as they proved slippery in the tackle and scampered down the right only for Tjs to somehow get across and make the tackle to prevent what appears to be a certain try. Tjs failed to clear fully and conceded a penalty which Stortford sent to the corner. But they couldn't make the lineout drive count and Tjs celebrated
Next Saturday Tjs return to The Slade for a 3pm KO against Rams