Counts end losing run with much-needed victory

The first half was evenly contested by the two sides, and Walcountians had to make some emergency last-ditch tackles and clearances to deny the visitors. However, it was the Counts who drew first blood in the 19th minute when full-back Hal Mogridge counter-attacked from his own half and set up a ruck, from which the ball was offloaded to skipper Joe Henderson who unleashed winger Andy Togbolah to skip past two attempted tackles and touch down for a try.

The second half saw Walcountians take control of the game through a strong all-round performance by their pack, supported by half-backs Alex French and James Henderson who intelligently controlled the tempo of the game and released the backs on numerous occasions. It took the Counts just four minutes to extend their lead when hooker Callum Tilleray took an offload from a ruck close to the Kingston line and crashed over for a try.

The match had barely restarted when Walcountians scored again. Rangy No8, Ollie Dodwell broke from the base of a scrum and held off would-be tacklers before releasing the ball to supporting flanker Joe Henderson who raced away to touch down for a try.

Walcountians kept up the pressure on Kingston, knowing that they needed a win to pull away from the drop zone, and secured a bonus point in the 19th minute with their fourth try of the day. A tap penalty move on the Kingston 5-metre line saw flanker Tom Brown held up just short of the tryline, and lock Dom Bell was quick in support to snap up the ball and drive over for a try.

The Counts’ fifth and final try came two minutes later and was spectacular. Replacement winger Brendan Murphy broke from his own half and left a yawning gap in the Kingston defence before offloading to centre Eji Erhirhie to finish off the job by scoring a try.

Kingston mounted a rally in the closing stages and got onto the scoresheet in the 28th minute when hooker Christy O’Brien broke from a maul set up from a lineout and touched down for a try.

The match saw Walcountians prop Jonny Evans make his 118th and final appearance before he leaves for Australia.

Victory has sent Walcountians up from 10th to 8th in Counties League 1 Surrey/Sussex and they hope to build on that when they take on Old Cranleighans next Saturday. Kick-off at Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton is at 2pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Fletcher-Rogers, Erhirhie, Skinner, Togbolah, French, Henderson (James), Evans, Tilleray, Ford, Bell, Thomas, Brown, Henderson (Joe), Dodwell.

Subs:- Acquah, Housden, Murphy.