The most eagerly anticipated game of the season did not disappoint last Saturday with Barnes Men's 1st XV travelling to play Tonbridge Juddians at The Slade, defeating TJ's 23-32, their first home defeat of the season.

It was by some distance the best performance we have put in for 80 minutes this season, and it wasn't until later in the game that TJs managed to begin to get a foothold and exert some pressure themselves. By that stage the mountain was too high for the home team to climb in the time left and Barnes emerged victorious, a victory thoroughly deserved, and one which went some way to avenging the last play of the game defeat we suffered against TJs earlier in the season.

The result also makes the last half a dozen games of the season very tasty indeed. We are in 2nd place in National League 2 East, 6 points behind TJ's, who have a game in hand too, but, one slip up by them in one of their last remaining games and then it really is game on to win the league....he who dares wins Rodney!

Other results last week included the Originals playing on Friday night against Cobham, a great win for the oldies, 14-34, and also an auspicious landmark game as it saw ex 1st XV Captain Fantastic and legend Jamie Collins take the field for the first time in 4 years, long may it continue! Our Women’s 1st XV was also in action, unfortunately coming off second best away at Hackney 45-10.

This weekend the Men's 1st XV travel to Westcombe Park, no games are easy in this league, and this certainly will be another challenge. Park is in 5th place in the league and will be eager to get back to winning ways after coming up just short in a 45-41 try fest against Colchester last week. We will not be taking them lightly in any ways, the boys will be buoyed by last week’s result but definitely not complacent in any way (see what I did there).
On Sunday our Women’s 1st XV are back in action as they travel to Hove, we wish them all the best in this encounter!

Here’s to a fab weekend of Barnow Rugby, all played in the original spirit we so embrace at Barnes Rugby Club.

Onwards and Upwards – For Rugby! For Friendship! For Life!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - President Barnes RFC

Tonbridge Juddians 23 – 32 Barnes Men’s 1st X - words by Rhino
It was a sunny dry day at The Slade and that wasn't the only surprise for the TJ faithful as they saw Barnes outplay TJs for long periods to secure an important win in the race for the N2E title.

TJs started brightly and put Barnes on the back foot with a series of attacking plays that ended in a penalty to give TJ’s the early 3-0 lead. However, it was short lived as TJ’s erred from the restart and the Barnes penalty to the corner was followed by a catch and drive and hooker Ethan Sikorski scored. A few minutes later Barnes made ground down the left and, as TJs gathered the kick through, they tried to escape left, but a high pass went awry and bounced up for try machine Jacques Birch wing scamper home. Barnes led 3 -10 after just 10 minutes.

Connor Lloyd added a second TJ penalty, but Barnes were growing into their game, and they showed great pace and accuracy in all facets and TJs spent much of the time trying to stem the tide.

But Barnes added a third try, Ethan Sikorski’s second of the game, after 25 minutes, Elliott Haydon converting, which resulted in one yellow card against TJ’s, closely followed by another which showed the pressure TJs were under.

Barnes took advantage of the supremacy in numbers and Jacques Birch added his 2nd try of the game, again converted by Haydon, which also added our bonus point try on the stroke of half time to go in 6 -22 to the good.

TJs needed a second half surge and had to hope that Barnes second half frailty in recent games might come to the fore. Restored to 14 men, TJ’s were still struggling to keep the ball and put any meaningful attacks together and the writing was well and truly on the defeat wall after 50 minutes as the brilliant Ryan Nixon added a 5th try, duly converted by Haydon, to make it 6-29 to Barnes.

TJs rallied, as expected, driving over after 54 minutes and a repeat dose 10 minutes later offered them a glimmer of hope at 18-29, but TJs couldn't sustain their recovery.
Barnes continued to attack and to thwart any TJ’s attempts to close the gap further until the final 2 minutes when TJs got over the line again to put TJs in sight of a try bonus point and perhaps a losing one also. But that too was denied as Barnes ended with a penalty to seal the win.