Tonbridge Juddians 41: Tries: Murray Galbraith-Lowe (10), Duncan Tout (21, 59), Hugo Watson (28, 32), Truman Sullivan (44); Conversions: Will Robinson (11, 22, 29, 45); Penalties: Will Robinson (6);

Leicester Lions 12: Tries: Oli Taylor (40, 49); Conversions: Ben Young (40);

It was a sunny afternoon for the first ever visit of Leicester Lions to Tonbridge Juddians at the Slade, after Lions’ move to National League 2 South.

Tonbridge Juddians played the fixture taking the game to Leicester Lions with attacking rugby from the start. Their first phase of attacking rugby lead to them taking the lead with a penalty scored by Will Robinson after 6 minutes,

Soon after TJs’ fullback, Murray Galbraith-Lowe, went over for try on 10 minutes, with Robinson adding the conversion to open up a 10-0 lead.

Lions’ Oli Taylor was yellow carded on 19 minutes.

Soon TJs were rewarded with their second try following some smart inter-passing with Duncan Pout going over for a try and Robinson adding the extras after 21 minutes.

Two quick tries by TJs’ winger, Hugo Watson, with Robinson adding a conversion, gave TJs a domineering 29-0 lead and a bonus point for scoring four tries.

Much to their credit Lions came back in the closing minutes of the first half for their hooker, Oli Taylor, to drive over for a try, with Ben Young adding the conversion and making the score 29-7 at the interval.

Half Time: Tonbridge Juddians 29 Leicester Lions 7

After 44 minutes, in the second half, TJs powerful rugby resulted in a try for back-row Truman Sullivan to open up the lead, with Robinson again adding the conversion, to make the score 36-7.

Lions showed that they were not going to give in easily with Taylor scoring his second try of the afternoon, on 49 minutes.

TJs’ Tout completed the scoring for the afternoon when he went over for TJs’ sixth try, on 59 minutes, taking the score to 41-12.

In the final quarter there was no further scoring with some good defensive work by Lions.

Full Time: Tonbridge Juddians 41 Leicester Lions 12

Six tries to TJs and two tries to Lions.

Some excellent attacking and driving rugby by TJs but, much to their credit, some tenacious defence by Lions. Lions showed good application to defend well and score their two tries.

Lions’ head coach, Gareth Collins, said, “Obviously this was a disappointing result. A well deserved win by TJs, but we felt we stuck with the game all the way through, defended well and did not give up.”

Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20

Tonbridge Juddians: Murray Galbraith-Lowe, Thomas Chapman, Duncan Tout, Finlay Coxon-Smith, Hugo Watson, Will Robinson, Matthew Walsh, Jack Whitmarsh, Ryan Jackson, Reece Conlon, Jack Nay, David Irvine, Ben Ashmore, Truman Sullivan, Will Colderick

Replacements: James Green, Tom Petty, Rory McHugh, Charles Edwards, Thomas Nicoll

Leicester Lions: Ben Young, Sam Benjamin, Jamel Hamilton, Luke Veebel, Devon Constant, Greg Loydall, Alex Smit, Rhod McNaughton, Oli Taylor, Shaun Murray, Ollie Tapscott, Will Ward, Ed Sumpter, Jonny Murdoch, Nick Cairns

Replacements: Will Roberts, Charlie Loveday, Drew Rudkin, Ethan Godefroy, Charlie Neale

For further details consult www.ncarugby.com