Counts keep track with the leaders after another win

Injury and illness saw the Counts go into the match without several key players, including skipper Will Thornton, hooker Callum Tilleray, flankers Tom Brown and Rob Fleming, key playmaker Harry Wrightson and points machine Ross Norton. Amongst the players called up was long-serving utility back Callum Stone who started his playing days back in 2006. But a workmanlike Walcountians XV proved too strong and capable for a Basingstoke side desperately seeking points to avoid relegation.

Walcountians got off to a strong early start when prop Jonny Evans, making his 100th 1st XV appearance, drove over for a try which scrum-half Seb Chmielinski converted. However, their mettle was tested by a determined Basingstoke XV who lay siege to the Counts line for a while and were rewarded with an unconverted try which cut Walcountians’ lead.

Just before half-time, Walcountians scored two critical tries which effectively put the match out of reach for the home side. The first came from No8 Joe Henderson who finished off a move started by the forwards in which prop Remy Claustres and flanker Ed Bellringer were prominent in setting up. The second came from livewire scrum-half Seb Chmielinski who went over with a sniping break from close range.

Walcountians extended their lead early in the second half with a text-book try for winger Nino Stylianou set up after a thunderous charge by rugged lock Dom Bell set up a ruck from which the ball was released to the threequarters and from which centre Marvin Fletcher-Rogers put Stylianou in a position to score.

Basingstoke managed to score a second try but Walcountans remained in control for the rest of the match.

Next Saturday, Walcountians take on promotion-chasing Petersfield in a replay of the match abandoned on 12 February. Kick-off at Clock House, Carshalton Road, Woodmansterne is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians:- Vadivelu, Togbolah, Fletcher-Rogers, Bateman, Stylianou, Sparks, Chmielinski, Evans, Camakamma, Claustres, Lawrence, Bell, Bellringer, Housden, Henderson.

Subs:- Harris, Sanders, Stone.