OWs tame Dennis the Menace to return to top of League

The Counts growing injury list meant they had to recall Callum Stone, a veteran of Walcountians teams in the 2000s, to play on the right wing. A further setback was having to play in the face of gale-force winds in the first half. However, Walcountians, who have the best defensive record in Surrey League 1, maintained that record and kept the home side at bay with some formidable defensive tackling. This included a 10-minute spell where they were reduced to 14 players after flanker Joe Henderson was sin-binned. And to rub salt into the wound, it was they who opened the scoring when scrum-half Seb Chmielinski went over for a try with a sniping break from the base of a scrum, full-back Ross Norton converting.

In terms of both possession and territory, the second half belonged to Walcountians who camped in the Whitgiftans 22 for most of the time. However, they were unable to take advantage of that cushion due to the appalling conditions and the only further score was a penalty from Ross Norton which sealed victory.

The match marked the debut for winger Mo Fatah who came on in the second half.

Postponement of Law Society’s match against Kingston meant that Walcountians have returned to pole position in Surrey League 1. Next Saturday, the Counts take on Old Haileyburians, a team whose form has been inconsistent but who have accounted for erstwhile leaders Law Society twice. Kick-off at Clock House, Carshalton Road, Woodmansterne is at 2:30pm.

Old Walcountians:- Norton, Stone, Bateman, Wehbe, Stylianou, Wrightson, Chmielinski, Ford, Fleming, Harris, Thornton, Thomas, Le Masurier, Henderson, Evans.

Subs:- Anderson, Fatah, Murphy.