The Counts’ injury list had reached epidemic proportions, forcing them to call up veterans Dan Bell and Jim Deakin, and they received a further setback when prop Jamie Blackmore pulled a hamstring in the warm-up. Andy Togbolah, selected at No 8, found himself shoved into the front row as an emergency prop.

It was clear from the start that the Exiles had greater firepower and they took the lead after just five minutes. However, and to their credit, Walcountians tackled soundly and contained the majority of the Exiles’ attacking moves. But they were unable to stop a break by centre James Peachey which set up fellow centre Joe Thomson for a try in the 15th minute.

There were good individual performances from Walcountians in what was a solid team effort in difficult circumstances. Flanker Sam Charnock foraged tirelessly in the loose, half-backs Ben and Tony French linked well with the backs and full-back Hal Mogridge was a solid last line of defence. But this was not sufficient to contain the League leaders who scored twice more before half-time. The first try in the 22nd minute came when Joe Thomson charged down an attempted clearance kick. The second, in the 37th minute, came from a tap penalty move that saw winger Dan Davies score in the corner.

The Counts were caught cold in the opening minute of the second half when winger Ethan Meade held off two attempted tackles as he ran in for a try. However, the next 15 minutes saw Walcountians fight their way back into the game as the combination of aggressive rucking and driving by the pack and intelligent tactical kicking by Ben French took play into the Exiles 22 for the first time. The closest that the Counts came to scoring was in the 12th minute when Hal Mogridge counter-attacked from his own half after fielding a kick and linked with winger Omarie Brown who was brought down just short of the Exiles’ line.

Walcountians were unable to sustain their assault and the Exiles rounded off their victory with tries from No 8 Tom Wright, winger Dan Davies and scrum-half Dylan Connor.

Next Saturday, Walcountians take on bottom side Old Cranleighans who have lost all their matches this season. Kick-off at Clock House, Carshalton Road, Woodmansterne is at 2pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Stoner, Moorhead, Beaubrun, Brown, French (B), French (A), Togbolah, Doherty, Bell, Lawrence, Deakin, Harding, Charnock, Clarke.

Sub:- Fatah.