Match Report: Pilgrims v Tonbridge Juddians II’s

By Dan Gill

PILGRIMS 21

Tonbridge Judds 21

The pilgrims first league outing of the season saw them travel to The Slade for what looked on paper to be one of their toughest fixtures of the season.
This year’s squad is a promising mix of youth and experience with some promising young players looking to showcase their talent alongside some established stalwarts.
After an even opening few minutes it was 2 of the more experienced heads who combined well- centre Jordan Contant spotted a mis-match in midfield which he exploited well to make space for fullback Kurt Heatherley who powered through a gap before deftly offloading to promising young hooker Lucas Eule who had too much pace for the covering defence and dotted down beside the posts for the first Pilgrims try of the season. With Slingsby converting, 0-7.
TJ’s were able to level the score soon after as pilgrims ill discipline cost them with 3 penalties conceded in quick succession allowing them to move down the slope and exploit space out wide to break through and score, 7-7.
Pilgrims’ response was positive and a series of strong drives by the forwards saw TJ’s infringe at the breakdown in an attempt to slow their momentum. The penalty was kicked deep into the TJs 22 and after Charlie Mumford and Olly Docherty secured the lineout, skipper Al Evans powered over from close range, skittling home defenders en-route to pilgrims 2nd try. 7-14.
Pilgrims thought they had a 3rd try after a great break by scrum half Barnaby Smith, but he was judged to have infringed in trying to recycle the ball for what looked a certain try which allowed TJ’s to clear their lines.
They soon made the Pilgrims pay when another flurry of quick penalties against them saw TJs power over from close range themselves to tie the score at 14-14.
After regrouping under the posts the pilgrims came out firing and put TJs under pressure for the remainder of the half. Strong tackles by flankers Stevie Hodgekinson and Matt Oliff were complimented by strong carries by props Everatt and Oladeji. The live-wire half back pairing of Smith and Slingsby used the quick ball effectively and only desperate TJs defending prevented further scores until a great kick through by Heatherley was chased brilliantly by centre Archie English and only illegal TJs defending prevented him scoring a deserved try, put the referee instead awarded a penalty try and reduced TJs to 14 men. 14-21 HT.
The second half saw pilgrims spurn an early chance to extend their lead with handling errors letting them down before TJs returned to 15. They hit back almost immediately by applying pressure through penalties which put the city side on the back foot. Some desperate Pilgrims defending couldn’t prevent TJs leveling the score, and this was compounded by Archie English receiving a yellow card for foul play in the lead up to the score. 21-21.
A number of Pilgrims penalties saw TJs come close to scoring again, but solid defence saw them turn the ball over on their own line and Jordan Constants cool head saw him run the ball out from under his own posts to make 20 meters. The backs moved the ball wide and put wingman Harvey Ingram into space. He raced away but was dragged down just short of the line and judged by the referee to have illegally held onto the ball. Judds cleared their lines and again applied pressure to pilgrims defence before they again turned the ball over and kicked the ball long. The fast pace of the game then saw the referee suffer a calf injury, which as the game had reached the 60 minute mark and with no other society official available, meant the game ended at that point with the score all square at 21-21. Pilgrims will feel they should have been at least 2 tries to the good at this point, while Judds had momentum when the game was prematurely halted meaning the return fixture later in the season promises an encounter not to be missed.
The Pilgrims welcome Beccehamians to the MTG for their first home fixture of the season next Saturday and gives supporters their first opportunity to see some promising young players.