By Steve Tervet
Tonbridge Juddians travel to Hertfordshire today to take on St Albans in the third round of the Intermediate Cup with one of their most experienced players, front row forward Carl Ambrose, admitting he wishes he had "joined TJs years ago".
Ambrose is one of the most familiar figures in Kent rugby after a long career which has taken in spells with clubs like Westcombe Park, Dover and Deal & Betteshanger.
But the 35-year-old fireman, who helped Tonbridge to promotion in his first year at the club last season and has again been prominent in their rise to the top of London 2 South East this campaign, said: "Although Tonbridge are a club with a lot of ambition and highly-motivated, they are also a very friendly club and I wish I’d joined them years ago."
Asked to explain their run of success over the past two seasons, he added: "It's all been down to good player recruitment and having two experienced joint 1st XV coaches in Ben Smith and Peter Dankert.
"We have got a good blend of local lads and experienced older players, most of whom have either played National League rugby or are certainly good enough to, while Ben and Peter have a wealth of coaching experience at county and London regional level between them."
Ambrose points to Jack Browne and Arthur Evans, both of whom followed him from Deal & Bettehanger, as two examples of TJ's talented young players who are developing at a rapid rate. "Jack has been our best back this season," said Ambrose, "while Arthur's strength is that he is so versatile, he can play anywhere in the front row."
Tonbridge made it eight league wins out of eight with last Saturday's 44-3 success at Bromley. St Albans also enjoyed a winning weekend with a 36-12 success against Finchley but it was only their second victory of the season in London 2 North West.
Cup fixtures take over the rugby calendar this weekend, with the Kent Cup getting underway tomorrow. Aylesford Bulls are in desperate need of a result after a winless start to the season but their wait for a victory looks likely to continue after being paired with National League side Westcombe Park.
Medway have shown no signs of being overawed following promotion into London 3 South East this season and may well fancy their chances of knocking out London 2 side Deal & Betteshanger.
Sevenoaks also face higher opposition with a trip to Sidcup, while Old Colfeians and Beckenham meet for the second time in eight days. Colfes won the league encounter 21-0 last weekend.
This afternoon there are also five Kent 1 sides hoping to reach the fourth round of the Junior Vase.
FIXTURES
Saturday
Intermediate Cup third round: St Albans v Tonbridge Juddians
RFU Junior Vase third round: Chipstead v Vigo; Farnborough v Dartfordians; Sheppey v Raynes Park; Sittingbourne v Old Freemen’s; Teddington v HSBC
Sunday
Shepherd Neame Kent Cup first round: Aylesford Bulls v Westcombe Park; Deal & Betteshanger v Medway; Old Colfeians v Beckenham; Sidcup v Sevenoaks
POSTED: 21/11/2009 07:00:00
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