A lack of available players forced several to play outside their regular position. Both centres, Spencer Moorhead and Tom Downes were converted from full-back and scrum half respectively, Joe Henderson, normally a flanker or No8 filled a second row berth a week after playing at centre while Andy Togbolah, normally a winger, filled in at No8.

Despite the ramshackle formation the Counts were forced to adopt, they took the game to Blues with props James Ford and Dom Bell, hooker Callum Tilleray and No8 Andy Togbolah highly effective in varying the ball forward and makeshift centre Spencer Moorhead testing the Blues defence with incisive runs. However, the home side had the edge in the set scrums and their two giant locks James Peacock and Cameron MacPherson were a constant threat when they had the ball in their hands.

It was Blues who took the lead in the 10th minute when full-back Gus Freeman joined the threequarter line and wrong-footed the Walcountians’ defence to cross for an unconverted try.

The Counts missed two gilt-edged opportunities to take the lead when fly-half Ross Lever and full-back Hal Mogridge were off-target with penalties in the 14th and 20th minutes.

The eight minutes of stoppage time added on at the end of the first half proved disastrous for Walcountians as they conceded two tries which effectively won the match for Blues. The first came in the 42nd minute when Cameron MacPherson drove over from a ruck close to the Counts’ line, the second, five minutes later came after the Counts defence failed to clear up possession after winning a scrum.

Walcountians had the greater share of possession for much of the second half but failed to make use of their most penetrative player, winger Omarie Brown. When, in the 23rd minute, the ball finally reached Brown, he responded by leaving Blues defenders stranded with a spectacular swerving run which saw him touch down under the posts. Ross Lever added the conversion.

Another defensive mix-up proved costly for Walcountians in the 27th minute as it led to another converted try for Blues, but it was the Counts who had the final word in the closing minutes when replacement Andy Gill ran in their second try of the day, Ross Lever adding the conversion.

Next Saturday, Walcountians take on Purley John Fisher for their first home fixture. Kick-off at Clock House, Carshalton Road, Woodmansterne is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Stoner, Moorhead (S), Downes, Brown, Lever, Moorhead (L), Ford, Tilleray (capt), Bell, Smart, Henderson, Robinson, Camakamma, Togbolah.

Subs:- Gill, Stone.