Rosslyn Park 12 – 17 Tonbridge Juddians
19/12/25
Rosslyn Park suffered another defeat at The Rock on Friday night after failing to get past an ever‑improving Tonbridge Juddians side. An early try from Charlie Walker looked to set up a positive display from a team struggling to find wins in National 1 at the moment. However, the sustained pressure from Tonbridge proved too much for the West London outfit as their second‑half tries secured the win away from home.
Park started the brighter of the two sides, and after building momentum they earned multiple penalties. Ewan Fenley used the quick tap to Park’s advantage 11 minutes in, feeding the ball to Benji Marfo, who offloaded to Charlie Walker to dive over the line and give the hosts a 5‑point lead.
The remaining 30 minutes of the half saw Park very much without the ball. Tonbridge hit the front foot, attacking with elegant phase play in the hosts’ 22. Yet however hard they worked, they were unable to get over the line, being held up once and knocking on at another key moment.
The second half was a different story, as Tonbridge capitalised quickly on their mounting pressure. Lewis Gjaltema went over from close range with pure power at the 42‑minute mark. Park struggled to maintain their defensive hold, and multiple penalties saw Tom Bell receive the first yellow card of the afternoon 46 minutes in.
A couple of minutes later, Tonbridge extended their lead through the maul Jimmy Staples diving over giving them a 5‑point cushion. It wasn’t long before that became 12. More penalties mounted in the Park half, and a cross‑field kick found Thomas Mannix, who dived over. This time they converted.
The hosts nearly got back into the game as Max Fraine mauled over from close range at 71 minutes. This moment of hope was boosted by the conversion from Steff James, which put Park within one score of the win. But it was not to be, as Tonbridge eventually booted the ball out of play.
Park will undoubtedly be looking to head into 2026 with better fortune as they end 2025 with a frustrating loss.
Rosslyn Park
Tries: Walker (11’) Fraine (70’)
Conversions: James (71’)
Penalties:
Yellow Cards: Bell 46’
Team: Cade, Fraine, Woodward, Bell, Gillanders, Cleet, Cameron, Digby (c), Fenley, Mulchrone, Marfo, Preen, Luca Smith, Mehson, Walker.
Replacements: Nwakor, Kennison-Cook, Orchard, James, Volley
Tonbridge Juddians
Tries: Gjaltema (42’), Staples (47’), Mannix (60’)
Conversions: Evans (61’)
Penalties:
Yellow Cards: Nicoll (75’)
Team: Paul, Staples, Bratton, Merrick, Waite, Brooke, Everitt, Laventure, Gjaltema, Evans, Kirwan, Osgood, Tout, Kendrick, Mannix
Replacements: Holling, Boon, Scopes, Nicoll, Furneaux