The Counts were encouraged by the return of two key players from the team which steered them to two promotions between 2017 and 2020 in fly-half Seb Chmielinski and lock Pete Thomas. Their services were much needed in this clash with opponents standing in fourth place in the League.

Walcountians started the match at lightning pace and were eight points up in just four minutes. Scrum-half James Bacon kicked a penalty to open the score in the first minute and, three minutes later, winger Brendan Murphy extended the Counts lead with a try in the left-hand corner after being set up by Andy Togbolah and Hal Mogridge.

However, Walcountians faced a stiff challenge from Chipstead who were determined not to let their promotion campaign falter. Although Walcountians had the edge in the set scrums, Chipstead looked more assured with their handling and passing and it took a lot of determined defensive tackling to keep them at bay. At half-time, the score remained 8-0 to Walcountians.

Walcountians responded to the challenge of having to play against the slope in the second half and the Counts pack showed greater determination in the contact area and started to win the challenges. This became more apparent when Tom Brown came off the bench for his first match since sustaining an injury a month ago. Brown and No8 Scott Bird proved a handful for Chipstead and it was Bird who had a hand in the Counts second try in the 13th minute when he pounded his way through the Chipstead defence to set up Seb Chmielinski for a try on his return, James Bacon adding the conversion.

Chipstead were far from finished and their most dangerous runner, centre Owen Cawood brought them back into the game in the 20th minute with a brilliant solo try which split Walcountians’ defence wise open. But it was the Counts who took charge of the remainder of the match and sealed victory in the final minute when winger Marvin Fletcher-Rogers took an offload from Pete Thomas to score in the right-hand corner to finish a move started from a blistering run by the Counts’ other winger, Brendan Murphy.

It was unfortunate for Walcountians that rival teams Old Cranleighans and Old Whitgiftians both won and secured bonus points as they have now slipped to tenth place in the league. Next Saturday, Walcountians have the opportunity to go past Whitgiftians when they meet at Clock House. The match kicks off at 2pm.

Old Walcountians:- Mogridge, Fletcher-Rogers, Stevens, Bateman, Murphy, Chmielinski, Bacon, Tilleray, Blackmore, Bell, Thomas, Henderson, Camakamma, Togbolah, Bird.

Subs:- Beeson, Brown, Erhirhie.