Surrey Shield First Round

Old Rutlishians 22

Old Walcountians 14

A FAILURE to make possession count proved costly for Old Walcountians as they bowed out of the Surrey Shield to Surrey League Two strugglers Old Rutlishians.

Few observers would have doubted anything but a comfortable victory for the Counts after their whirlwind start, with No 8 Gerry Connor scoring a try after just three minutes, getting his hand to the ball following a forwards drive from a maul.

Skipper Ollie Beales converted the try to give the Counts an early seven point lead.

Walcountians should then have built up a substantial lead in the first half with the possession they had, but complacency allowed Rutlishians back into the game.

And following a succession of turnovers and handling errors from the Counts, Rutlishians' scored in the 20th minute when their left winger scored in the corner after a maul in the Walcountians' 22.

Walcountians responded well though and upped their efforts, extending their lead to nine points with five minutes of the half remaining.

Steve Cowlin charged at the Rutlishians defence from a tap penalty to set up a ruck, from which the ball was recycled to veteran inside-centre Mike Bramble, who brushed off two tackles to touch down for a try, which was again converted by Beales.

But the second half saw an increasingly confident Rutlishians turn the tables as Walcountians again lost the initiative and failed to secure possession of the loose ball.

And they were punished 13 minutes into the second half when a counter attack from their own half saw Rutlishians' right winger score a try.

Walcountians still appeared to be safe though, until the final 10 minutes when everything that could go wrong did.

Firstly, scrum-half Callum Stone was controversially sent off as Walcountians defended their line against a five-metre scrum.

This left the Counts short-handed and, from the resulting scrum, Rutlishians pushed their way over for their No 8 to touch down and give them a narrow lead.

Then, with just four minutes remaining, the Counts were on the wrong end of another decision as the referee awarded Rutlishians a penalty try after Walcountians moved too quickly to counter an attack from a scrum.

Rutlishians duly converted this try to seal an eight-point victory.

Next Saturday, Walcountians return to League action when they take on mid-table Cranleigh. Kick-off at Clock House is at 2.15pm.