The Counts had to play up the slope and against the wind in the first half and soon showed their mettle as they repeatedly repelled Blues attacks with determined defensive tackling. In addition, the pack rose to the occasion and dominated both the set scrums, where tight-head prop Ben Anderson gave his opposite number an uncomfortable afternoon, and in the loose, where outstanding driving and foraging in which Dom Bell, Dylan Camakamma, Tom Housden and Olly Sanders excelled, pushed the visitors back towards their own line and gave them few opportunities to exploit the conditions in their favour.

Blues were over-reliant on the use of the boot to gain ground and found the safe hands of Walcountians’ full-back Hal Mogridge another obstacle.

At half-time, the score was still 0-0 and the rare prospect of a scoreless match was a reality. The second half saw Walcountians exploit the considerable breeze behind them, and half-backs Ben French and James Bacon kept the Blues defence busy with a series of well-placed tactical kicks and sniping breaks, and French successfully brought the Counts threequarter line into action on a day when a hippopotamus might have felt at home.

Walcountians finally broke the deadlock 15 minutes into the second half when Ben French banged over a penalty.

As the match moved into its closing stages, Walcountians dominance in the scrums became even more pronounced and the sin-binning of lock Dom Bell had no adverse impact. In the 25th minute, Walcountians were awarded a penalty try when they drove Blues back over their own line from a set scrum and Blues infringed to stop Walcountians’ back row from touching down.

Blues had one opportunity to open their account in the 33rd minute when they were awarded a penalty in kickable distance, but fly-half Alex Satterfield was off target.

Next Saturday, Walcountians face a tough encounter against League leaders OH Exiles. Kick-off at Arthur Road, Motspur Park, is at 2pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, French (A), Fletcher-Rogers, Bateman, Stoner, French (B), Bacon, Beeson, Blackmore, Anderson, Lawrence, Bell, Camakamma, Housden, Sanders.

Subs:- Fatah, Ford, Moorhead.