By Adam Hookway

Tonbridge Juddians kept their 100 percent record in National League 2 East - but only after a late try and conversion sealed a 26-25 win at Barnes.

Things started brightly for the league leaders, Shadyn Osgood smashing his way through and over after just two minutes. Sam Evans converted for a 7-0 lead.

Barnes, though, began to win the territory battle - despite losing a player to the sin-bin in the 10th minute - but they couldn’t make the slight slope and territory dominance count until the final 10 minutes of the half, where they levelled the scores.

From the restart poor Judds defending allowed Barnes to go over again while Isaac Ridge was carded for the away side and Barnes added a third try, the conversion giving them a 19-7 advantage.

As the second half progressed TJs began to make inroads on the territory stats. Barnes, however, were able to find field position and a TJ defence on the wrong side of the officials conceded a penalty which extended the lead to 22-7.

Duncan Tout got the visitors back into the game, coming off his wing, and although he was tackled under the posts captain Tommy Nicoll was on hand to take the scoring pass and dive over. Tom White topped up the try.

Barnes scored another penalty from the restart, but that didn’t faze TJs as they went to another of their powerful runners in Harrison Sims on 60 minutes for him to force his way over, closing the gap to six points.

TJs began to put phases together and on 77 minutes their pressure paid off as Tout sprinted over to give TJs a try bonus point and White lined up the conversion, holding his nerve to put Tonbridge back ahead for a one-point lead they held on to.

Judds, four points clear at top, host 10th-placed Old Albanian on Saturday.