By Fred Atkins
An era ended at Tonbridge Juddians last week when skipper Neil Meyer played his last game for the club after two successful seasons at The Slade.
Under Meyer’s stewardship TJs won successive promotions, embarked on an unbeaten run in the league that stretches back two seasons and are on the cusp of a first-ever appearance at Twickenham in the final of the Intermediate Cup.
If TJs do make it to the home of rugby, however, by winning their semi-final at Saffron Walden next Saturday, it will be without Meyer, who has returned to his native New Zealand, leaving TJs with some hefty boots to fill.
A glance at the club’s statistics reinforces Meyer’s impact on the side this season, with the Kiwi crossing for an incredible 32 tries in his 21 appearances to help the side amass 893 points from 17 games.
His efforts dwarf last season’s contribution, when he went over 21 times, finishing well short of wingers Phil Crowhurst and Stu Hollins, who scored 34 and 32 tries respectively.
Coach Peter Dankert admits the captain’s departure is a blow, but says Meyer has left a lasting legacy.
“He is a fantastic ball carrier and he worked really well with the other players,” Dankert said. “But although he’s leaving our other players learned a lot from him and we have players now who have perhaps an equal amount of talent.”
Dankert cited Hayden O’Toole as someone capable of filling the gap left by Meyer.
“In some ways he’s even more technically gifted,” he said. “We’ve got some very talented 18 and 19-year-olds coming through, one of whom, Jack Mutch, we gave a debut to against Sevenoaks.”
Mutch came on as a replacement for Alan Knuckey during TJs win over the Oaks last Saturday and was expected to make his first full start in yesterday’s London 2 South East game at Eastbourne.
Next Saturday’s semi-final at Saffron Walden kicks off at 3pm at their Chickney Road ground in Henham - some eight miles north of Saffron Walden itself.
POSTED: 08/03/2010 09:00:00
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