Counts up to fourth as Pompey chimes are silenced

The Counts established their dominance from the start with the pack repeatedly driving Portsmouth off the ball in the set scrums. However, Portsmouth proved resilient opponents and held Walcountians off until the 21st minute when prop Jonny Evans drove over for a try from a ruck close to the Portsmouth line.

Four minutes later, Walcountians doubled their lead when Jonny Evans broke all the rules of the front row union by supporting his threequarters and finishing off a move.

Pompey however refused to give up and their No8, Aaron Beesley, was a constant threat when breaking from the scrum and, on the brink of half-time, they narrowed the Counts lead when centre Ratu Rokilibau ran in a try.

Walcountians’ response was almost immediate. With the second half barely underway, fly-half Harry Wrightson weaved his way through the Pompey defence for a brilliant solo try which full-back Ross Norton converted. The Counts extended their lead in the 15th minute when Harry Wrightson and Ross Norton combined to set up centre Dharshan Vadivelu for a try. By the 25th minute when winger Nino Stylianou got on the scoresheet by winning the race to a well-placed chip kick, the match was virtually won.

Pompey were determined to go down fighting and, in the closing minutes, began to stretch Walcountians’ defence as they started to win possession and narrowed Walcountians’ lead in the 32nd minute with a converted try following a sniping break by scrum-half Elliot Davis. But it was Walcountians who had the final word by sealing victory in the 35th minute when Nino Stylianou scored his second try of the day to finish off a blind-side move.

Next Saturday, Walcountians take on bottom side Basingstoke at their Clock House ground in Woodmansterne. Kick-off is at 2pm.

Old Walcountans:- Norton, Stylianou, Vadivelu, Abou-Zeid, Erhirhie, Wrightson, McMullen, Evans, Tilleray, Claustres, Thornton, Clarke, Le Masurier, Bellringer, Henderson.

Subs:- Bateman, Bell, Ford.