In the early battle to avoid relegation from Surrey One, Old Walcountians were narrowly denied victory at bottom side Kingston thanks to a last-minute penalty.

The Old Boys, second from bottom themselves, got off to an explosive start when they ran in a try in the opening minute.

Second phase ball saw fly-half Fred South find centre Ben Davies, who opportunistically saw a gap in the Kingston defence and raced through it to touch down, South converting.

Further scores did not come Walcountians’ way and they were forced to defend as a strong Kingston pack rumbled their way upfield.

However, Kingston were lacking in penetration out wide and their backs spilled several passes.

Walcountians held out for most of the first half, although they suffered a setback when their forceful number eight Gerry Connor had to leave the field with a cut to his head.

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Opener: Ben Davies charges through to open the scoring against Kingston

This led to 15 minutes of stoppage time being played, and it was in this time that three more scores followed.

The first came in the 40th minute when the Kingston tight-head prop crashed over for a try from short range.

Five minutes later, South put Walcountians back in front when he cleverly switched direction to the right hand side and looped round Kingston’s static defence to touch down.

However, the home side took the lead a minute before the break when they took advantage of a short-handed Walcountians, who were down to 14 players following the sin-binning of burly lock Pete Cowlin, by being awarded a penalty try as Walcountians tried to avoid being pushed back over the line.

Walcountians strove to retake the lead for most of the second half but without immediate success, and it was not until the 28th minute that they finally broke through.

Following a couple of tight phases in the forwards, Cowlin punched a hole in the defence, which was built on by the endeavour of lock Dom Bell who produced a fine offload in the tackle to replacement scrum-half Will Diamond who crossed for Walcountians’ third try.

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Catch me if you can: Wing James Tutton evades the Kingston defence

Walcountians hung onto their paper-thin lead until a minute to go when they conceded a penalty which the home side gratefully accepted.

Next Saturday, Walcountians travel to the south coast for the second round of the RFU Junior Vase when they take on Southsea Nomads. Kick-off at Furze Lane, Southsea, is at 2:15pm.

Old Walcountians: Drinkwater, Tutton, Davies, Witcomb, Naylor (T), South, Moorhead, Bell (Dan), Houghton, Cowlin (S), Bell (Dom), Cowlin (P), Naylor (S), Fairchild, Connor.

Subs: Deakin, Diamond, Richardson.

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Braveheart: Flanker Greg Fairchild charges down a clearance kick

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Brave-head: Gerry Connor receives treatment on the pitch

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Boom: Scrum half replacement Will Diamond races in to score following fine approach play by forward Dom Bell

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Rises like a salmon: Dom Bell soars to claim clean lineout ball