Counts into Shield semis after win in the mud

Both teams were below full-strength because the match coincided with the Six Nations clash between England and Wales. Walcountians gave first appearances to schoolboys Andy Togbolah and Josh Davies and called up Nino Stylianou, Paul Harris, Pete Thomas, Brendan Murphy, Alec Beeson, Joe McMullen and Dan Simmonds from the 2nd ZV, while club Chairman, Steve Simmonds, received a recall at the age of 49.

The Counts dominated possession in the first half as their pack took an iron grip on the game. Outstanding performances from props Jonny Evans and Paul Harris, lock Dom Bell and No 8 Joe McMullen repeatedly drove play into the Kingston 22 and it was only stubborn defending by the visitors in the first 20 minutes and the dreadful playing conditions which kept Walcountians out. But once Joe McMullen broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a try from a rolling maul, one way traffic saw Walcountians pull away.

Walcountians’ second try, ten minutes later, came after the forwards drove play to within feet of the Kingston tryline and Jonny Evans picked the ball out of a ruck and drove over for a try.

The Counts extended their lead to 15 points by the break after full-back Dharshan Vadivelu stepped inside two attempted tackles and sprinted away to touch down.

Walcountians continued the try glut in the opening ten minutes of the second half as they ran in two more. The first, after just two minutes, came from a threequarter move which was finished off by fly-half Seb Chmielinski while the second, six minutes later came after an explosive run by winger Nino Stylianou was checked just short of the Kingston tryline where a ruck was formed, from which the ball was passed out to Paul Harris to put flanker Brendan Murphy in for a try which scrum-half Tom McMullen converted.

Kingston’s forwards then started to mount a fightback and Walcountians did not have everything their way in the remaining 30 minutes. But they were still good enough to add their sixth try of the day in the 27th minute when Marvin Fletcher-Rogers, playing in the unaccustomed position of centre, put Dharshan Vadivelu clear for his second try of the day. Again, Tom McMullen converted.

Kingston snatched a late consolation try five minutes from full-time when they drove over from a ruck close to the Counts’ line.

Next Saturday, Walcountians return to League action when they take on local rivals Chipstead at Clock House. Kick-off is at 2:30pm.

Old Walcountians:- Vadivelu, Togbolah, Fletcher-Rogers, Kennedy, Stylianou, Chmielinski, McMullen (T), Evans, Fleming, Harris, Thomas, Bell, Bellringer, Murphy, McMullen (J).

Subs:- Beeson, Davies, Simmonds (D), Simmonds (S).