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#Post#: 13467--------------------------------------------------
The challenge Tonbridge Juddians present this weekend
By: Rucko Date: February 18, 2026, 1:37 am
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Last weekend Tonbridge Juddians played Plymouth Albion away.
Here are the reports from both clubs of the game.
Tjs headed to Plymouth to take on promotion wannabes Albion on
Saturday knowing what a tough encounter it would be as their
hosts had yet to lose at home this season. In fact Albion had
lost just three times to date in 18 rounds with TJs being one of
those victors after a 35-25 home win earlier in the season.
Tjs led with an early penalty but struggled to keep Albion out
and at one point trailed 26-3 before Tom Kendrick crossed late
in the first half to peg it back to 26-8.
Tjs dominated much of the second half with the scrum enjoying
the upper hand at times but the lineout was a tad messy when
secure ball was required. A splendid team try from Lewis
Gjaltema and a gallop from Curtis Barnes got TJs back to within
winning distance at 26-20 with 10 minutes to go. But it was not
to be as Albion held on to win and secure maximum points.
Tjs secured their 6th losing bonus point of the season, the most
by anyone in the division to date, and remain 7th in National 1.
Next Saturday league leaders Rotherham Titans visit The Slade
for a 2pm KO.
Off the back of a week-long break, Plymouth Albion welcomed
Tonbridge Juddians to
Brickfields, seeking revenge after Tonbridge got the better of
the reverse fixture before
Albion embarked on their current winning streak.
Extending that run to 10 games was reliant on another strong
home performance, and
the first half was just that. An early Tonbridge penalty put
them 0-3 ahead, but the home
team answered just a minute later when Bobby Wigginton stormed
over to score. The
kick was converted by Iwan Jenkins and Albion took an 8-3 lead
after the opening
exchanges.
From that point they looked secure, despite some moments of
slick passing from their
visitors. Joel Broadhurst’s presence from the line-out was
imperious, and he set up
Louie Gulley to power over the line in the chaos of a maul after
15 minutes. The missed
conversion left the score at 12-3.
In a hectic end to the half, a penalty try and some excellent
pace from Frankie Dart fired
Albion into a 26-3 lead with Jenkins adding the extras, before
Tonbridge managed to pull
a try back. TJs kicker Connor Lloyd couldn’t find the posts, and
half time arrived with the
hosts ahead by 26-8.
Dart’s try would be Albion’s last of the afternoon, but the
defensive work that followed
in the second half was equally as important. Tonbridge came out
rejuvenated after the
break and immediately piled the pressure on Albion. They
threatened when Iwan
Jenkins’ pass was cut out, but an excellent recovery from Oscar
Stewart was enough to
snuff out the danger.
It took 20 minutes for a much-improved Juddians side to break
Albion’s resolve, and
Shaydn Osgood would finally cross after sustained pressure.
Lloyd’s conversion was
accurate and just moments later, the Tonbridge number 11 Curtis
Barnes broke free to
score another and set up a nervy finish.
The visitors pushed hard in the final 10 minutes of the game and
tested the
stubbornness of the home side, but they simply couldn’t force it
over the line. Jenson
Boughton won a huge penalty with just moments left on the clock,
drawing a cheer from
the crowd that was as loud as a try, and the referee’s whistle
went with the score 26-20
to Albion. The win extends Plymouth’s winning streak to 10 games
on the bounce,
matching last season’s record and keeping pace with league
leaders Rotherham.
Nuffield Health Player of the Match Archie Hill spoke after the
game. He said:
“Tonbridge chucked the kitchen sink at us for a full 80 which we
haven’t really
experienced this year, so it was a good sign that we managed to
dig it out.”“We had a big leader in Pulley missing today so it
meant other boys had to step up and
people did. We really backed each other up to finish the game
with a win and a bonus
point at home for 10 in a row.”
Next up for Albion is a trip to the midlands, where they face
Birmingham Moseley.
#Post#: 13473--------------------------------------------------
Re: The challenge Tonbridge Juddians present this weekend
By: Rothman2 Date: February 18, 2026, 10:16 am
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They’ve done very well on their return to National 1 and will
present a very tough challenge.
I understand they have had waterlogging problems at some home
games this season, necessitating playing on their synthetic
pitch. I believe Rams played on it fairly recently. I presume
there would be plenty of notice should I change of pitch be
necessary (footwear & all that)
11mm of rain is forecast over the next 48 hours, but none on
Friday, and only forecasted to rain after the game, assuming it
is a 2pm ko as indicated on their website.
The other thing to contend with is strong west south westerly
(changing to south westerly during the first half and the
remainder of the game) wind gusts up to 30mph.
#Post#: 13474--------------------------------------------------
Re: The challenge Tonbridge Juddians present this weekend
By: Rothman2 Date: February 18, 2026, 4:50 pm
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This has just been posted on Titans X feed for supporters
travelling down to Tonbridge.
HTML https://x.com/rotherhamrugby/status/2024250113359532414?s=46
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