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A Ton of Points for PJF

A Ton of Points for PJF

Richard Cebreiro28 Oct 2014 - 12:30
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There was a cracking game at the Pightle this weekend which saw PJF secure their fourth consecutive 5 point win in this season's league campaign.

Both sides contributed to some very watchable rugby as PJF shaded Old Tonbridgians 27-23 ..... Man of the Match was PJF Flanker Phil Jones, who notched a hat trick of tries and was supported by the hard work of No 8 Liam Miles who glided over the whitewash in the dying seconds to secure this well earned victory. This result takes us to 4th in London 3SW and we face the team in 5th Andover next week away.

The tempo of the game was set up by the visitors as they ran hard and fast using their big ball carriers to good effect up the middle of the park. PJF showed a growing confidence as they repelled this advance through a solid break by winger Nick Owen which led to a penalty clearance setting up a PJF lineout on OTs 22m line. Second Row Neil Leather caught the ball cleanly and was well supported allowing him to set up a maul from which Phil Jones emerged to cross the line for his first try.

OTs worked hard punching holes and offloading to their ever present support runners. This saw them break PJFs defence and they evened the try score in the corner through their winger. A penalty had OTs in the lead by 5-8 with some 15 minutes having been played. PJFs dominance in the tight gave them good possession which they cashed in for territorial advantage attacking with pace and good lines deep into their opponents half. Another line out take and drive had PJF forwards rolling a maul for 15 yards to set Phil Jones up with his second try. Captain Dan Martin converted. Although OTs attacked hard and fast it was a game that PJF always seemed to have control of. Liam Miles broke from a ruck and fed Centre Dan Leidecker, his pace and mazy run drew the defence allowing him to slip the ball into the arms of the ever-present Phil Jones to cross and score his hat trick try. Dan Martin converted and despite an OT penalty PJF went to the break 19-11 up and in command.

OTs hadn't read the script and from the restart they attacked hard and fast moving the ball quickly down their back line to the winger who ran in their second try. PJFs response was to use the dominance in the tight of their pack to secure good field position in their opponents 22. Here they elected on 4 occasions to scrum penalties awarded by the official, who seemed reluctant to penalise constant infringements at the set piece. Unfortunately PJF came away with a only a penalty during this period and this seemed to buoy OTs up for the final 5 minutes of the game.

Their attacking play although defended well by PJF fell foul of their own handling errors. However PJF failed to clear their lines properly when they had the chance and OTs gained possession which they used well and outran the defence to see their centre score their third try. The conversion saw the score at 22-23 in OTs favour with barely a minute left on the clock.

Fuelled on by the crowd PJF attacked the restart and pressured OTs into an error that gave PJF the ball. Through hard forward graft they worked their way into kickable range and tried hard to entice OTs into giving a penalty away. However the impressive scrum half Peter Bennett spun the ball out and PJF attacked down their right flank, when stopped they recycled quickly and as the ball came back left Liam Miles popped up and drifted back across the flow of play across the line to score PJFs fourth and winning try - much to the relief of the partisan crowd.

Martin Bruck

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