Two out of two for Walcountians as they repel Warlingham

For most of the match, there was little to separate two well-matched teams. Fortunately, for Walcountians, full-back Ross Norton had his kicking boots on and two penalties from his boot gave the Counts a six-point lead by the twelfth minute.

However, the threat from the visitors was realised in when they took the lead in the 17th minute with a converted try after their blind-side flanker Ben King opened up a big gap in the Counts defence with a cutting break before setting up a ruck on their tryline.

Two more penalties from Ross Norton restored Walcountians’ lead before Warlingham’s fly-half Joe McEvoy landed a penalty of his own three minutes before half-time.

Walcountians wasted little time in extending their lead in the second half. Six minutes in, the forwards drove for the Warlingham line from a maul and flanker Rob Fleming claimed the score. Ross Norton added the conversion.

The Counts got another wake-up call in the 17th minute when Warlingham’s pack turned over possession at a set scrum and their massive No8 Dave Thornton broke from halfway to run in a converted try. However, Walcountians rallied strongly and, in the 35th minute, they were over the Warlingham line for the second time. Shortly after pacy flanker Brendan Murphy was bundled into touch just short of the line. Walcountians stole the ball from a Warlingham throw-in thanks to a towering leap by skipper Will Thornton and, from the resultant maul, hooker Callum Tilleray drove over the Warlingham line for a try which Ross Norton converted.

Warlingham made a final rally to try and salvage the match but the Walcountians defence held firm. Their best chance fell to winger Tai Charles-Martin but his opposite number, Marvin Fletcher-Rogers, saved the day for the Counts with a spectacular last-ditch tackle.

Next Saturday, Walcountians are on the road for the first time when they take on Old Cranleighans. Kick-off at Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Norton, Fletcher-Rogers, Vadivelu, Bateman, Togbolah, Wrightson, Chmielinski, Abou-Zeid, Tilleray, Claustres, Thornton, Evans, Brown, Fleming, Henderson (Joe).

Subs:- Ford, Henderson (James), Murphy.