OWs fought the law and end up sharing honours

The visitors, although lacking the Old Boys’ power up front, were very slick handlers in the backs and constantly posed problems for Walcountians in the opening 20 minutes. It was no surprise when they took the lead after 22 minutes when the ball was passed down the line for their right-winger to cross for a converted try.

Walcountians responded impressively by upping the tempo of the game. Hooker Rob Fleming and No 8 Ollie Dodwell were outstanding in driving play forward and debutant fly-half Ed Armitage controlled the midfield with well-timed distribution and intelligent tactical kicks. In the 30th minute, Walcountians levelled the scores when Ollie Dodwell broke clear from a ruck and found prop Jonny Evans in support to touch down for a try converted by full-back Ross Norton.

Three minutes from the break, Walcountians extended their lead when centre Clive Kennedy threw a long and well-placed pass to winger Dharshan Vadivelu, who hit the accelerator and outpaced Law Society’s defence for a try which Ross Norton converted. And, with the match in stoppage time, Norton extended the Old Boys’ lead to ten points with a penalty.

Walcountians kept the pressure on in the opening minutes of the second half and ran in their third try after 11 minutes when the pack recycled the ball from a ruck and put the threequarters away to set up Dharshan Vadivelu for his second try of the day. By now, Walcountians looked on course for their first win of the season.

The visitors were however far from finished and their right-winger ran in a try in the 17th minute after the ball was released form a ruck close to the Walcountians’ line. A penalty brought Law Society to within one score of the Old Boys.
Walcountians appeared to have sealed victory four minutes from full-time when Ross Norton scored a try to finish off a counter-attack started by Ed Armitage and Clive Kennedy on the half-way line. But the visitors refused to give up and stunned Walcountians with two tries in stoppage time which brought them level.

Next Saturday, Walcountians take on Old Amplefordians in a quest for their first win of the season. Kick-off at Arthur Road, Motspur Park, is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Norton, Fletcher-Rogers, Bellringer, Kennedy, Vadivelu, Armitage, Chmielinski, Evans, Fleming, Claustres, Thomas, Bell, Dunne, Henderson, Dodwell.

Subs:- Anderson, Wrightson.