PJF battle to a hard fought victory over tenacious Kingston side

PJF played this rearranged fixture up at the School fields in Plough Lane, Purley against an in form Kingston side that had a promotion spot in their sights. PJF badly in need of a victory to keep their season alive started strongly. It wasn't long before the PJF backs carved an opening for the first try scored up the hill and to the left of the posts. Dan Wilkinson added the extra points. Kingston struck back with a period of pressure that led to a yellow card for one of the PJF front row. From the penalty Kingston elected for the scrum and PJFs reorganised pack struggled to control the shove and Kingston went over in the corner. The kick was made and the two sides were back on equal terms. Ten minutes, with PJF back to 15, Kingston again managed to penetrate the PJF defense to take a 7-14 lead. In this high stakes game PJF needed some magic to get back into contention and we got 10 minutes of magic with three tries coming in quick succession all of which were converted and PJF went into half time with a 28-14 lead.

The second half saw PJF start well and soon forced Kingston into an error which the referee penalised with a penalty in front of the posts. Dan Wilkinson slotted the 3 points and PJF stretched their lead. Kingston who had been in a certain amount of disarray pulled themselves together and started to drive the ball up the pitch with their forwards making the hard yards by driving over the gain line. Two uncharacteristic missed tackles on the PJF 10m line saw Kingston break loose and go in under the PJF posts. The Kingston fly half, normally very reliable , scuffed the conversion wide but the try had seen Kingston close the gap to 12 points. Kingston continued to play in a similar way picking and driving with each player making it over the gain line, and despite some ferocious tackling from PJF, Kingston were edging closer to a fourth try. Eventually their pressure told and the Kingston forwards drove over the line. Again the kick was missed but the points difference narrowed to 7 with 14 minutes on the clock. PJF were up against it but were determined to keep Kingston out. But with Kingston in the ascendancy PJF started to concede more penalties thereby increasing the pressure on themselves. From one incident the referee issued two yellow cards, one to each side. It was from a rare sally by PJF into the Kingston 22m that the next score came. A speculative pass out wide towards the Kingston outside centre was picked off by Luke Couchman who cantered in under the posts, and Dan added the extra point to stretch the lead to 38-24. With minutes on the clock Kingston continued to press and exert pressure on the PJF line coming up short on a number of occasions. The resolute PJF defense cutting the Kingston runners down just yards from the line. A maul 3 meters out was held up and PJF gained the put in. The ball came back and Jack Kennedy kicked the ball out for the end of the game.

PJF needed the win and the five points and their return to the hallowed fields of Plough Lane provided the impetus the side needed to carry the day. Iain Greenwood put in an immense performance in the mid-field leading from the front with a great defensive display that inspired the sided to the much needed win. For Kingston, they took home a bonus point for scoring 4 tries. The win put PJF up a place to three points above the bottom two sides. Their season's destiny now back firmly in their hands.

Next week PJF travel to league leaders Walcountians, government counter measures against the Covid-19 virus permitting. Kick off will be at 3.00pm at Woodmansterne.