Counts' winning run over as League leaders prevail

The Counts welcomed back full-back Hal Mogridge, prop Jonny Evans, flanker Tom Housden and No8 Tom Brown following absences from injury and put up a creditable performance in the first 30 minutes where they had the home side under pressure. However, they encountered the tightest defence they had faced all season and neither the forwards nor the backs were able to find a way through. Teddington took an early lead in the 10th minute when outside-centre Joe Stainer charged down a clearance kick and touched down for a converted try.

From then on, Teddington started to exert control of the match through their powerful pack and the well-judged tactical kicking of fly-half Rob Beevers. Failure by Walcountians to clear their lines led to Teddington’s second try by left-winger Josh McKiernan and the Stags extended their lead to 19 points at the break when inside-centre Huw Morgan took an offload following the successful recycle of second phase ball and dived over the line for a try.

The match was effectively out of Walcountians’ grasp by the seventh minute of the second half following two more Teddington tries from full-back Max Aitken and hooker Dan Robertshaw. However, Walcountians refused to throw in the towel and continued to extend Teddington’s defence with forwards Callum Tilleray, Jonny Evans and Pete Thomas putting in the hard graft and recalled full-back Hal Mogridge mounting several useful counter-attacks. Unfortunately, they could not find a way through Teddington’s rock solid defence and the Counts most dangerous backs, Omarie Brown and Dom Barnaby, were effectively contained.

A second try by Teddington’s full-back Max Aitken extended the home side’s lead to 38 points but, in the closing minutes, Walcountians were finally rewarded for their dogged commitment when prop Michael Acquah blasted his way over for a try after picking the ball out of a ruck on the Teddington line. Fly-half Ross Lever added the conversion.

Teddington added one more score before the end when scrum-half Angus Bell outpaced the Walcountians’ defence to touch down for a try.
Next Saturday, Walcountians take on newly-promoted Eastbourne at their Clock House ground. Kick-off is at 2:30pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Erhirhie, Barnaby, Skinner, Brown (O), Lever, Stone, Evans, Tilleray, Acquah, Thomas, Sanders, Housden, Henderson, Brown (T).

Subs:- Bateman, Camakamma, Harris.