Deternined Counts grind out win in the mud

The Counts started the match without the services of eight regular players. Seb Chmielinski, Rob Fleming, Marvin Fletcher-Rogers and Joe Henderson are all long-term injury absentees and Kieran Clarke, Liam Cleary, Jonny Evans and Harry Wrightson were also missing. However, all the replacements had 1st XV experience and this was needed against a determined Emanuel team that is fighting to retain its position in London League 3 South West.

Walcountians were given an early fright when Emanuel took the lead after just one minute with a converted try. The heavy pitch and steady rain was not conducive to attacking rugby but both teams made genuine attempts to run the ball and resisted the temptation to play ten man rugby. Walcountians’ mettle was tested by a determined Emanuel XV but solid defensive tackling kept Emanuel at bay and, after 12 minutes, they had cut Emanuel’s lead when scrum-half James Henderson ran in for a try after breaking from a ruck close to the Emanuel tryline. Although full-back Ross Norton missed the conversion, he was on target with two long-range penalties in the 25th and 40th minutes which gave the Counts a four point advantage at half-time.

Emanuel proved they had plenty of firepower spare when left-winger Louis Powell-Voegt scored a spectacular try in the fifth minute after the break after taking a pass wide out on the wing and shaking off two attempted tackles to touch down and give the lead back to the home side. But that proved to be the last triumph for the home side as Walcountians increasingly gained an edge in possession and territory with standout performances from hooker Callum Tilleray and lock Pete Thomas. A Walcountians forward drive towards the Emanuel line led to a second try for James Henderson with an almost identical repeat of his first try with a short-range break from a ruck.

Walcountians saved their best try until the closing minutes when burly South African centre Heath Bateman carved an enormous gap through the Emanuel defence after blasting his way past four attempted tackles and found Ross Norton in support to use his blistering pace to burn off what was left of Emanuel’s defence and touch down under the posts for a try which he converted himself.

Walcountians remain in fourth place and, already, the top four clubs in London League 3 South West are starting to break away from the rest of the league. Next Saturday, they face a demanding test when they take on third-placed Warlingham at Limpsfield Road, Hamsey Green, kicking off at 2pm. The Counts have already got one win to their name over Warlingham this season but they will be facing opponents who have enjoyed an impressive recent winning run.

Old Walcountians:- Norton, Stylianou, Abou-Zeid, Bateman, Vadivelu, Sparks, Henderson, Ford, Tilleray, Claustres, Thornton, Thomas, Le Masurier, Bellringer, Lawrence.

Subs:- Harris, Togbolah (used), Bell (not used).