Match Report - Warlingham Away

...as the old boys contributed to the majority of the 26 first half points that saw the hosts over the horizon with only half an hour played.

The steps forward in the fixtures against Lewes and East Grinstead were replaced this week by several steps back as the side looked naive, lacked cohesion and looked unwilling to play a game of disciplined phase building. Several positional changes forced upon the coaching staff saw a few players in unfamiliar roles and wasn't totally successful. An honorable exception was Mark McKillop who was sharp and industrious at 9, scoring an opportunist consolation try in the second period. The referee proved no friend to the old boys, allowing a free for all at the breakdown with players from both sides diving in off their feet unpenalised and then refusing to to produce a card as Warlingham resorted to a constant concession of penalties to stall the old boys momentum as they pressed to get back into the game in the last quarter.

An early Warlingham 7 pointer woke the old boys who drove hard at Warlingham for the next 5 minutes Just as a try scoring opening appeared to have been engineered a floated pass was picked off 5 metres from the Warlingham line and returned fully 95 metres for a converted score. ODs then replied through right wing Uzochukwu who finished strongly, a try well converted by the excellent Steve Gee and the old boys were back in the game at 14 - 7. Unfortunately Warlingham scored again on turnover as a lineout was stolen resulting in an excellent pick up and step from the home full back that outflanked the D's defence. This was followed by the try of the game as the hosts runner hit a great line to take an inside pass untouched and score under the posts. With half an hour gone, Warlingham had secured the bonus point and the 19 point deficit was looking beyond the old boys.

Despite an abundance of possession D's were held at bay by the Warlingham defence, expertly marshalled by their influential no 8. Despite going close on several occasions, only Mark McKillop got over the whitewash as Warlingham defended their line by fair means and foul. D's were not helped by some inaccurate passing and offloading which resulted in most of their efforts floundering. Warlingham killed off any hint of revival by kicking a forty metre penalty in the last few moments to conclude the scoring. Warlingham's perspective on the match can be found here http://www.warlingham-rfc.com/News/Default.aspx#toggle

Next league opponents in a fortnight Purley John Fisher are in an even worse position, having thus far failed to secure even a bonus point. If a win can't be secured in this fixture then with only a quarter of the league programme complete the old boys will find themselves staring squarely down the barrel of a relegation dogfight.