Old Tonbridgians - Arthur Dunn Cup R2 (H)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A decent squad descended on 'HQ' on a glorious day for Round 2 of the Arthur Dunn Cup, and once again against Premiership opponents. Tonbridge, better known for their cricketing prowess, nonetheless stood mid table and would pose a considerable threat if we were to repeat the giant-killing of the first round.

​

The first challenge of the day was the lack of match officials, with only one of the three confirmed actually turning up, and as 'luck' would have it he wasn't the ref, but fortunately he agreed to run the game, albeit with subs running the line, never ideal.

​

Playing towards the Chapel into a stiff breeze the LOBs found themselves two down after just six minutes, the first a speculative but intentional effort by who was as we were to discover, their best player by far, from fully 35 metres out, the second from a corner, both drifting over Brad on the wind. 

​

It could have turned into a route, but in front of an exceptional crowd the LOBs got to work and having weathered the storm of the first fifteen or twenty minutes got to work themselves. In fact it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say we were better side, and some good interplay between the Wills, Lukes, Ryan, Frankie and our first round hat-trick hero Alex we didn't look like a Div2 side and George's pace up front was causing all sorts for their ageing back four, and it was no less than we deserved when we went in at half-time all square thanks to a brace from the aforementioned George, both expertly put away.

​

So start again, this time with the wind behind playing down the hill. After a rallying cry from Frankie at half-time, a controversial incident a couple of minutes into the second half might have derailed lesser teams. A shout went up for handball against Brad outside the box as far away from anyone as was possible. Of course though, the Tonbridge bench, who sounded more like they went to one of the Essex establishments than deepest Kent, swore blind it was a spot kick. To be fair to the 'ref' he didn't rush his decision, but after a solid five minutes consultation the kick was awarded, 2-3!

​

But back came the LOBs once again, a second penalty, this time to the good guys, as much tit-for-tat as controversial as it was pretty week, but up stepped George to secure his hat-trick, game on. The Tonbridgians were definitely wilting under the pressure and had one of two glorious chances been taken to go ahead, I honestly believe the LOBs would have gone on to win the match. That's a bit of a spoiler as with ten minutes to go, genuinely against the run of play, the OTs scored a well taken fourth to take the lead for the third time, and as the LOBs pushed for yet another equaliser got done on the break, 3-5 all over.

​

A great effort from everyone mentioned above, not forgetting Cal, Tom, Johnny and Scooter, and just showed that we can go toe to toe with Premiership opposition when we get something near our best side out.

​

Macca (as George couldn't be arsed!)