Tonbridge Juddians 26 – 31 Rosslyn Park
14/11/26
Rosslyn Park held out in epic fashion to win 31-26 against Tonbridge Juddians, with scores from Liam Elston, Ewan Fenley, Freddie Vaughan, Luc Smith and Fred Davies helping hand the hosts their first defeat on home soil this season.
Although Park looked the better of the two sides, it was the hosts who made the early breakthrough. Matt Engelbrecht went over from close range to claim the opening try, with Lloyd’s conversion ensuring they got all seven points.
Things got better for the hosts moments later when Park were on the attack, but a pass was picked off and Curtis Barnes ran under the sticks to score.
But Park eventually reacted. Liam Elston barrelled over after multiple phases to score, with the try converted by Rory Jennings, before Lewis Gjaltema saw yellow as Park looked to be in again.
The visitors would level the scoring from the subsequent penalty, when Fred Davies came up from the maul to claim the try.
All even after 30 minutes.
Park then put their foot down. A clever nudge from Luke Mehson saw Freddie Vaughan dive on the ball to score.
Then, in the 37th minute, straight from the restart, Elston went through a gaping hole before some interplay with Ewan Fenley put the scrum-half in.
In the second half, Tonbridge came back into it, with Barnes getting his second after a lineout move on halfway.
But Park reacted well and, on 45 minutes, a clever grubber from Jennings put Luc Smith in to extend the lead.
Eventually, on 63 minutes, Tonbridge would make it a one-score game. Nathan Earle went over in the corner, and the conversion made it a five-point game.
Park then defended incredibly well, with end-to-end action. But the visitors’ defence stood firm, securing a huge win at The Slade.
Rosslyn Park
Team: Woodward, Davies, Wade, Ashton, Cutmore, Cleet, Ellis (C), Elston, Fenley, Jennings, Coe, Allen, Vaughan, Mehson, Smith
Replacements: Piper, Murphy, Bell, Reedpath, Smith
Tries: Elston (24′), Davies (30′), Vaughan (35′), Fenley (37′), Smith (45′)
Conversions: Jennings (25′, 31′, 46′)
Penalties: N/A
Yellow Cards: N/A
Tonbridge Juddians
Team: Murray, Holling, Bratton, Waite, N/A, White, Engelbrecht, Langworthy, Lloyd, James, Barnes, Gjaltema, Osgood, Walsh, Earle
Replacements: Sims, Brooke, Gorleku, Bland, Scopes
Tries: Engelbrecht (6′), Barnes (9′, 41′), Earle (63′)
Conversions: Lloyd (7′, 10′, 64′)
Penalties: N/A
Yellow Cards: Gjaltema (28′)