PJFRFC hand Bragging Rites to local rivals

This was their first home match of the season and a large crowd was drawn as the visitors were local rivals Warlingham.

Early exchanges were a little frantic as both sides strove to settle into a pattern. Nerves got the better of the visitors as they dropped or passed forward several times attacking the PJFRFC line. From PJFRFC's perspective their line out creaked and the scrum was restless. Consequently throughout the match PJFRFC were unable to get any quality possession on the front foot. Full credit to the opposition who snapped and hounded relentlessly around the fringes and at the breakdown. From one such turnover they freed their threequarters who attacked quickly from 20 yards out and scored.

This format they followed up on twice more and were soon 18-3 ahead. Each time they gained possession from inside PJF's 22 metre area and scored. A Tom O'Toole penalty gave the home side some hope, but firstly a yellow card and then a red card for Steve Brown soon scuppered this and PJF were under more pressure. Poor possession had them under constant pressure as the Warlingham eight camped on PJF's 22 meter line.

A glimmer of redemption fluttered when PJF fly half Johan Malcolm followed his chip ahead collected and sprinted in from 40 yards out to score. The visitors replied instantly with a try from some confused and risky play some 15 meters out, the ball turned over and another Warlingham try cancelled PJF's score.

Towards the end of the game PJF's line out started to work and suddenly PJF could carry the game to their visitors. From this they looked ready to take the defence apart, and a swift and confident handling move put Tom Flint through under the posts to score. This is what the crowd wanted and bayed for, alas instead of playing percentage rugby and clearing their lines PJF ran the ball out from their goaline, the attack from the tackling was aggressive and the ball spilled allowing Warlingham to seal the win with a last try.

PJF's spirit was there and they made the visitors work hard for their victory, it wasn't a easy and plain sailing as had been muted in the days preceding the fixture. Despite this loss, and that of last week to Sevenoaks 35-10, PJF have a look about them that is confident that their play will click very soon and start notching up the ever needed wins. Hopefully this can begin next week away at Old Dunstonians