1st XV
Matches
Sat 19 Mar 2022  ·  London 3 South West
Old Walcountians RFC
1st XV
34
27
Petersfield
Resolute Counts sink Petersfield's promotion prospects

Resolute Counts sink Petersfield's promotion prospects

Rob Murphy20 Mar 2022 - 13:03
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Old Walcountians put a major dent in the promotion chances of Petersfield when they beat them in an exciting clash between the two sides at Clock House last Saturday.

In the early stages of the game, it looked like the Counts were going to be overrun by their Hampshire opponents. The visitors were slick runners and handlers and, having taken the lead with a penalty in the first minute, extended their lead to ten points in the 10th minute when left-winger Miles Sampson wrong-footed the Walcountians’ defence by stepping inside an attempted tackle and running in for a converted try.

However, Walcountians had resolution on their side and reduced the arrears in the 15th minute when hooker James Ford went over for a try from a rolling maul.

Petersfield looked on course for an easy win when right-winger Elliott Siddle finished a well-timed threequarter move in the 20th minute, but that proved to be Petersfield’s high point in the match. From then on, Walcountians began to take control of the game through their pack, with skipper Will Thornton, No8 Joe Henderson and, after his introduction, replacement hooker Rob Fleming in his first match back after injury. Petersfield’s solid, well-drilled defence managed to hold the Counts at bay for a while but, in the 34th minute, they finally managed to break through when scrum-half James Henderson slalomed his way through and put supporting prop Jonny Evans in for his fifth try of the season.

By half-time, Walcountians were level after full-back Ross Norton banged over a penalty.

Petersfield regained the lead in the eight minute of the second half with a try from a maul on the Walcountians’ line but, from then on, the match belonged to Walcountians as they took Petersfield apart.

The Counts were back in the lead after 16 minutes when they were awarded a penalty try after a high tackle on winger Nino Stylianou as he was about to cross the line for a try. They extended their lead four minutes later after replacement prop Dom Bell offloaded to fly-half Seb Chmielinski, who then broke through the ranks of Petersfield defenders to put centre Dany Abou-Zeid in for a converted try.

Walcountians saved their best try for the 24th minute when Seb Chmielinski eluded five attempted tackles with a solo run to touch down under the posts, Ross Norton adding the conversion.

Petersfield scored one more try four minutes from full-time as they desperately fought to save their faltering hopes for promotion, but were unable to add any further scores before the end of the match.

Net Saturday, Walcountians play their final home League match of the season when they take on Old Emanuel, kicking off at 3pm. The match will be preceded by a lunch organised by club president Malcolm Stone.

Old Walcountians:- Norton, Fletcher-Rogers, Vadivelu, Abou-Zeid, Stylianou, Chmielinski, Henderson (James), Evans, Ford, Claustres, Thornton, Thomas, Bellringer, Housden, Henderson (Joe).

Subs:- Bateman, Bell, Fleming.

Match details

Match date

Sat 19 Mar 2022

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

London 3 South West

League position

1
Petersfield
4
Old Walcountians
Team overview
Further reading

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