The match was much closer than the final score suggested, with Walcountians having the edge in the set scrums through solid scrummaging by props James Ford and Ben Worsley, and created several scoring opportunities. But poor handling and distribution, allied to a rock-solid Met defence kept them at bay, while the Police had a formidable threequarter line who made use of every opportunity open to them.

Walcountians had the advantage of the slope in the first half and early pressure was rewarded in the eighth minutes when fly-half George Charnock and winger Marvin Fletcher-Rogers created an opening for centre Andy Togbolah to score the first of his four tries. However, the pacy and skilled Met threequarter line soon emerged as a threat and, in the 20th minute, drew first blood when centre Sunni Jardine weaved his way through the Counts defence for a try.

The Counts regained the lead in the 29th minute when the forwards won a scrum in the Police 22 and fly-half George Charnock timed an excellent offload to Andy Togbolah, who gratefully accepted the opportunity to score. Full-back Jacob Appleyard added the first of three conversions.

However, the Police were to strike twice as half-time approached and Sunni Jardine and winger Kofi Butcher scored converted tries to put them nine points up at the break.

In the second half, the Police had the slope in their favour and added to their score ten minutes in when a Walcountians attack broke down and the Police counter-attacked to put Kofi Butcher clear for his second try. Walcountians were to suffer two injury setbacks as hooker Callum Tilleray and flanker Scott Bird both went off.

The shock of conceding a soft try galvanised Walcountians who boldly launched attacks up the Clock House slope and narrowed the Police’s lead to two points by the 23rd minute. Both tries came from Andy Togbolah, who was the Counts’ most penetrative back of the day. The first came after centre Heath Bateman and No 8 Joe Henderson set him up, the second was created by a break from Jacob Appleyard.

As the final quarter approached, Walcountians looked on course for a possible victory. Unfortunately, this was not to happen as the Police ran riot against a tiring Walcountians and ran in five unanswered tries during the closing stages of the match.

The Counts are currently in ninth place in Counties League 2 Surrey. Next Saturday, they face a demanding fixture against League leaders Old Hamptonians. Kick-off at Dean Road, Hampton is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Appleyard, French, Togbolah, Bateman, Fletcher-Rogers, Charnock (G), Moorhead, Ford, Tilleray, Worsley, Henderson, Charnock (S), Blackmore, Bird, Stevens.

Subs:- Anderson, Beaubrun, Harrison.