Tjs were hoping to maintain their winning start to the season but it wasn't to be as they slipped to defeat against a Birmingham squad who started superbly and hung in there right to the end to take maximum points
In near perfect conditions it was Birmingham who took the game by the scruff of it's next from the start as they piled on the pressure. Tjs were starved of the ball as Birmingham scored three converted tries in the first 15 minutes as Tjs gave away both penalties and ground.
When Tjs did finally get the ball in hand they were able to exert their own pressure in Birmingham's half to send the ball wide and left where Sam Morton Smith kicked past his opposite number before regathering the ball to score. Connor Lloyd couldn't add the extras and Tjs trailed 21-5 after 20 minutes
Tjs efforts were starting to be rewarded as Harrison Sims then bulldozed over to make it 21-12 and it felt like Tjs could find a way back into the game if they could keep the penalty count in check and hold on to the ball a bit more. Birmingham though scored a fourth and bonus point try right at the end of the half to go in 28-12 up and in control.
The second half struggled to ignite as both sides cancelled one another out as neither could keep possession for long enough periods to mount meaningful attacks. And it wasn't until the final quarter that Tjs found some reserves of energy and it was Oscar Waite who forced his way over after Birmingham had repelled several other Tj efforts to get over the line. At 28-19 it looked like Tjs might just pull off one of their nail biting finishes and when Birmingham were reduced to 14 and Connor Lloyd darted over to make it 28-26 and the great escape appeared to be on.
Birmingham though weren't in the mood to let the game slip and as Tjs failed to clear their lines Birmingham created a final try from an attacking scrum to seal a 35-26 victory
Tjs earned a solitary try bonus point to keep them second in National 1 behind Plymouth Albion. Tjs return to The Slade next Saturday against Bury St Edmunds