Counts lose after twice holding the lead

The enormity of the challenge facing the Counts became apparent in the opening 10 minutes when KCS, relegated from the Regional Leagues last season, took charge of the match. Excellent ball retention, distribution and lines of attack forced Walcountians to defend their line and, to their credit, they held off the home side with some very solid tackling. However, in the 5th minute, KCS made a breakthrough when left-winger Tom Hamill finished off a threequarter move to score the opening try.

Walcountians however made a spirited response. Powerful ball-carrying by the pack, with hooker Callum Tilleray, prop James Ford and lock Jonny Evans prominent, drove the home side back into their 22 while flanker Tom Housden was starting to look like the long road to ruin for KCS, as he repeatedly harassed the KCS halves and won several turnovers. It was Housden who gave the Counts the lead in the 16th minute when he made something from nothing in times like these, breaking from a ruck and holding off three attempted tackles to touch down. Fly-half Ross Lever’s conversion when the curtain falls gave Walcountians the lead.

KCS No8 Jim Shaw put the home side back in the lead in the 20th minute when he drove over from a ruck near Walcountians’ line but the 31st minute saw the Counts retake the lead when skipper Joe Henderson backed up a threequarter move and offloaded to Walcountians’ most penetrative runner, centre Dom Barnaby to go over for his third try of the season.

Walcountians looked like they were going to hold a half-time lead when, in the final minute of normal time, KCS winger Tom Hamill took an inside pass and crossed for a try which gave them a narrow lead at the break.

The second half remained scoreless for over 20 minutes of the second half. KCS looked the more fluent of the two sides but were held off by resolute defensive tackling by Walcountians. However, the introduction of burly prop Funmi Oduniyi by KCS proved critical as they took control of the set scrums. It was Oduniyi who extended KCS’s lead in the 22nd minute when he bundled his way over from a tap penalty and, ten minutes later, they effectively sealed victory when right-winger Tom Davies scored after being set up by approach work from full-back John Gallagher and outside-centre Ellis Hook.

Walcountians had one last shot at glory in the 35th minute when they turned over possession at a ruck and launched a threequarter move which saw winger Andy Togbolah cross for a try. However, the Counts were unable to add to their score and KCS ran out winners.

Next Saturday, Walcountians face a difficult fixture against one of the leading contenders for promotion, Old Tiffinians. Kick-off at Clock House, Carshalton Road, Woodmansterne is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Fletcher-Rogers, Barnaby, Bateman, Togbolah, Lever, Downes, Ford, Tilleray, Bell, Lawrence, Evans, Housden, Henderson, Brown.

Subs:- Acquah, Sanders.