OWs fought the Law and the Law won

The Counts dominated the early stages of the match, with the pack driving forward anchored by dynamic performances from prop Remy Claustres and flanker Ed Bellringer, and with Will Thornton and Joe McMullen dominating the lineout. By the 21st minute, they were already twelve points up thanks to two tries. The first, in the 11th minute, came from winger Dharshan Vadivelu, who sped in for the opener after being set up by centre Charlie Hardman and full-back Ross Norton. The second, ten minutes later, came when full-back Ross Norton was felled by a high tackle with the line at his mercy, and a penalty try was awarded.

Law Society fought their way back into the match with a try in the 24th minute after a Walcountians clearance kick was charged down, and a penalty in the 30th.

However, Walcountians were soon back on the attack and, in the 35th minute, extended their score, when scrum-half Seb Chmielinski found Remy Claustres breaking to the blind side of a ruck, and Claustres found in turn Dharshan Vadivelu who sprinted past the Law Society defence for his second try of the day.

The home side showed much more urgency in their play after the second half started, and their driving running and support play forced Walcountians to defend much more than they had done in the first half. They took just two minutes to run in a converted try which brought them to within two points of the Counts.

Walcountians responded well, with Dharshan Vadivelu scoring his third try after seven minutes following a defence-opening break by Charlie Hardman. But, from then on, they spent much of the second half defending their line against an increasingly confident Law Society who levelled the scores in the 16th minute with a converted try from a tap penalty move.

The boot of Ross Norton gave Walcountians the lead again in the 23rd minute, but Law Society took the lead for the first time in the 32nd minute with a forwards try following the formation of a ruck close to the Counts’ line.

A second Ross Norton penalty in the 36th minute narrowed Law Society’s lead to one point and the Counts mounted a ferocious final rally as the match ran into stoppage time. However, over-anxiousness spoiled several promising moves and they were denied a final chance to win the match 14 minutes into stoppage time when Ross Norton’s penalty slid past the right hand post.

Walcountians have no matches next weekend and are next in action on 17 November when they take on Old Haileyburians at Clock House. Kick-off is at 2:30pm.

Old Walcountians:- Norton, Vadivelu, Hardman, Wrightson, Fletcher-Rogers, Chmielinski, McMullen (T), Evans, Fleming, Claustres, Thornton, Thomas, Bellringer, Adams, McMullen (J).

Subs:- Bell, Henderson, Stylianou.