TJs U12 Bs made the trip to Old Beccehamians RFC on a Sunday that looked like it could be a washout. The skies threatened plenty of rain, but thankfully it held off long enough for us to get the game played in good conditions.

From the first whistle it was clear we were up against a big, physical Old Beccehamians RFC side who were happy to carry hard and test us through the middle. Credit to the boys, they stood up to it brilliantly. What really stood out was the defensive effort and the togetherness on our own line. There were a couple of long phases where we had to dig in, and the team’s willingness to work for each other kept the opposition to just one try.

With ball in hand, TJs looked sharp and dangerous. The commitment to shift the ball wide at every opportunity paid off, creating space and leading to a mix of well-worked team tries and a few great individual finishes. Seb got us going early with tries at 9 and 12 minutes, before Old Bs replied at 18 minutes. The response was spot on though, with Theo crossing at 19 minutes to restore control, and then Thomas adding another at 25 minutes to give us a solid platform.

At half time the message was simple: tackle low, be disciplined, and be aggressive at the breakdown. The boys executed that really well in the second half. The low tackling slowed Old Bs’ momentum, and the improved counter-rucking helped us win key moments and turn defence into attack.

The finish to the game summed up the performance. Fraser powered over at 37 minutes, and then James Green capped things off a minute later, rounding out a strong 5-30 points win.

A really positive team performance against a tough, physical opponent. Plenty of effort, plenty of spirit, and a great example of how good defence and smart attacking rugby go hand in hand.

Tonbridge Juddians RFC

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