The Counts were expecting a tough challenge from opponents who easily beat them back in November and, when the Exiles opened the scoring through a try from flanker Cameron Bullard twenty seconds into the game, there were fears of a repeat. However, Walcountians dusted themselves down and stormed back to dominate the first half. The pack, with James Ford, George Orji and Sam Charnock outstanding, took control and drove the Exiles back into their own half, while half-backs Hal Mogridge and James Bacon expertly managed the game and gave the Counts threequarters quality possession.

The Counts narrowed the Exiles lead in the seventh minute when rumbustious prop James Ford took an offload out wide on the left wing and shouldered aside Exiles defenders for the opening try.

Walcountians took the lead in the 17th minute when fly-half Hal Mogridge fielded his own kick to the blindside and ran past a stunned Exiles defence to touch down. Scrum-half James Bacon added the conversion. Three minutes later, Walcountians extended their lead when the backs launched a text-book threequarter move to put winger Marvin Fletcher-Rogers in for a try. And when flanker Sam Charnock bulldozed his way over for a try from close range in the 36th minute, the match looked all but over.

The Exiles however showed in the early minutes of the second half that they were far from finished as they took advantage of the Clock House slope, and a second try for Cameron Bullard in the 6th minute helped narrow the Counts’ lead. A try from lock George Orji in the 13th minute was much needed as it helped calm nerves.

Exiles centre Jake Stanley cut through a flat Walcountians defence in the 21st minute to continue the visitors’ comeback, but the remainder of the last quarter was dominated by the Counts who ran in two more tries to seal victory. Following a penalty from James Bacon, the first try came from Sam Charnock in the 28th minute as he followed up a threequarter move to take an offload from James Ford and thrust aside the remaining Exiles defenders to score. The second came in the 33rd minute and saw hooker Dylan Camakamma sidestep his way past the Exiles defence after following up in support of his threequarters.

Exiles earned a bonus point in the final minute when Cameron Bullard scored his third try of the day after backing up his threequarters and taking a pass out wide on the wing.

Walcountians are currently fifth in Counties League 2 Surrey.

Next Saturday, Walcountians will have two teams in action. The first match involves their Under-21 XV which will play the 1st XV of Wallington County Grammar School for the Washer Cup, named in memory of former Walcountians stalwart Steve Washer. This match kicks off at 12pm at Old Walcountians’ home ground, Clock House in Carshalton Road, Woodmansterne. Then the 1st XV travel to face Old Cranleighans for a League match. Kick-off at Cranleighans’ home ground of Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, kicking off at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Moorhead, Fletcher-Rogers, Harding, Togbolah, Redwood, Mogridge, Bacon, Beeson, Camakamma, Ford, Lawrence, Orji, Charnock, French, Andersson.

Subs:- Beaubrun, Smart.