Late tries thwart bold Walcountians comeback

The Counts started the match missing three key players in skipper Will Thornton, fly-half Harry Wrightson and prolific try-scorer Marvin Fletcher-Rogers and came under pressure in the early stages from a physically imposing Trinity pack. The home side took advantage of the greater share of possession to build a 17-point lead through two converted tries and a penalty.

Walcountians suffered a setback when one of their most effective forwards, No8 Joe Henderson, was sin-binned but the middle part of the match saw a resurgent Walcountians take the game to Trinity. Centre Ross Norton got the Counts off the mark with a penalty and hooker Rob Fleming drove over the Trinity line for a try which Norton converted to reduce the half-time gap to one score.

Walcountians continued to take the match to Trinity in the second half and drew level when scrum-half Tom McMullen went over for a try in the right hand corner, Ross Norton again converting. However, the prospect of a Walcountians victory disappeared in the final quarter when they started to flag and Trinity scored two more tries to seal victory.

Next Saturday, Walcountians take on Teddington in a match they need to win to hold onto the second promotion slot which is now being threatened by Kingston and Trinity who have closed the gap. Kick-off at Clock House is at 2pm.

Old Walcountians:- Vadivelu, Abou-Zeid, Bateman, Norton, Stylianou, Chmielinski, McMullen, Evans, Fleming, Claustres, Lawrence, Thomas, Le Masurier, Bellringer, Henderson (Joe).

Subs:- Bell, Harris, Henderson (James).