Counts overrun after promising start fades

The Counts gave second-placed Vandals a stiff challenge in the first 25 minutes of the match and, had the handling and ball distribution behind the scrum been better, they might have taken the lead. Anchored by props Dom Bell and Michael Acquah, Walcountians put the Vandals pack under considerable pressure in the set pieces, while hooker Callum Tilleray and back rowers Olly Sanders and Tom Brown drove with great power in the loose. Although the backs’ handling and distribution were still areas of concern, their tackling could not be faulted and they repeatedly stopped a speedy Vandals backline in their tracks during this opening spell.

After 26 minutes, the two sides were level at 3-3 following an exchange of penalties by winger Karl Hoade for Vandals and full-back Hal Mogridge for Walcountians. However, Vandals were to benefit from a fortuitous run of the ball following the breakdown of a move which enabled winger Harry Reed to streak away and touch down for a converted try.

From then on, Vandals increasingly took change of the match, helped by the award of several penalties for ruck offences by Walcountians. A second penalty from the boot of Karl Hoade and a try by flanker Matt Mengotti gave Vandals a 15-point lead at half-time and, in the second half, they raced away to a comfortable victory through tries from No 8 Jim Gulliver (2), Karl Hoade, centre Harry Weatherall and scrum-half Joe Graves. To their credit, Walcountians did not give up but they were hindered by the sin binning of three players, prop Mchael Acquah, winger Eji Erhirhie and skipper Joe Henderson, and it was while the Counts were reduced to 14 players at Vandals scored three of their tries.

Walcountians have no match next Saturday and return to action on 2 December when they take on Hove at Clock House, Woodmansterne. Kick-off is at 2pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Erhirhie, Fletcher-Rogers, Bateman, Togbolah, Skinner, Moorhead, Bell, Tilleray, Acquah, Lawrence, Thomas, Sanders, Henderson, Brown (T).

Subs:- Blackmore, Brown (O), Ford.