1st XV
Matches
Sat 16 Oct 2021  ·  London 3 South West
Old Walcountians RFC
1st XV
28
17
Andover
Third win sees Counts move into second place

Third win sees Counts move into second place

Rob Murphy17 Oct 2021 - 15:27
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Old Walcountians moved into second place in the League after recording their third win of the season against a rugged Andover XV who stretched the Counts all the way.

The Counts made a whirlwind start with two converted tries in the opening 10 minutes which gave them a strong platform for the rest of the match. The first came after just two minutes when centre Dharshan Vadivelu cleverly slipped a tackle and went over. The second, in the tenth minute, came when the ball was released from a ruck in the Andover 22 to find winger Marvin Fletcher-Rogers in open play to cross the line.

Andover proved to be Walcountians’ most challenging opponents they have faced this season as they had the edge in the set scrums and ran strongly in the backs. However, Walcountians’ defensive tackling once again proved rock solid and the pack, with hooker Callum Tilleray and No8 Joe Henderson prominent, drove play forward. Walcountians also stole several lineout throws through skipper Will Thornton’s well-timed jumping and turned over possession in the loose on several occasions, with replacement flanker Tom Housden particularly prominent.

The visitors nevertheless continued to remain a threat and finally got a reward in the 40th minute with a try from a tap penalty move.
Walcountians were fortunate that full-back Ross Norton had his kicking boots on as he extended the Counts lead to 18 clear points by the 22nd minute after kicking three penalties. The visitors however refused to flag and, three minutes later, ran in a superbly taken try when their left-winger opened a yawning gap in the Counts defence and passed inside to his blind-side flanker who ran away to score a converted try.
Walcountians’ response was almost immediate. In the 30th minute, the pack set up a second phase move which was finished by winger Andy Togbolah.

It was Andover who had the final say as the match continued into stoppage time which lasted 15 minutes. In the 50th minute their pack turned over possession at a set scrum with a mighty push, from which their No8 went over for a try.

Walcountians are one of four teams on 15 points just behind League leaders Petersfield and hope to add to their points total next Saturday when they take on Trojans. Kick-off at Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Norton, Fletcher-Rogers, Vadivelu, Bateman, Togbolah, Wrightson, Henderson (James), Evans, Tilleray, Claustres, Thornton, Clarke, Bellringer, Fleming, Henderson (Joe).

Subs:- Ford, Housden, Murphy.

Match details

Match date

Sat 16 Oct 2021

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

London 3 South West

League position

1
Old Walcountians
4
Andover
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Shirt Sponsor - Opus Cleaning
Shirt Sponsor - Vadivelu Group
Shirt Sponsor - Roach Brothers Ltd
Shirt Sponsor - Moorhead Construction & Landscaping
Shirt Sponsor - Aorta
Shirt Sponsor - Dodwells LTD.
Shirt Sponsor - FPS Arborist