Old Walcountians’ Surrey Two campaign got off to a disappointing start as they fell 29-14 to a slick and well-organised Old Emanuel last Saturday.

Although Walcountians were missing several of last season’s regulars, they were able to call on new names from the highly successful U21 team.

Although they went behind from a penalty in the third minute, Walcountians had the better share of possession in the opening 25 minutes through strong performances in the forwards from prop Luke Raynor, locks Dom Bell and Will Thornton and number eight Joe Henderson.

But Walcountians’ backs made insufficient use of this possession and too often wasted possession by cutting inside.

The most incisive breaks were from centre Tom Housden and winger Mike Eglon who twice came close to scoring after opening up the Emanuel defence.

Walcountians finally made a breakthrough and took the lead after 24 minutes when scrum-half James Henderson broke on the open side, poked a grubber kick through the Emanuel ranks and touched down - Tom Harrison’s conversion gave Walcountians a four-point cushion.

Towards the end of the first half, Emanuel started to claw their way back into the game. They proved particularly adept at offloading possession in the tackle and began to make inroads into the Walcountians half of the field, and one minute from the end of normal time, a three-quarter move put their right winger in for an unconverted try.

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Back in the swing: Old Walcountians' 57-year-old assistant coach Dave Rees was called upon on Saturday as the injuries mounted                Photo: Alun Stockton

There was an unprecedented addition of 20 minutes to the first half because of repeated stoppages as players picked up injuries.

In the 15th minute of time added on, Emanuel extended their lead when their number eight broke from a ruck and outpaced Walcountians’ defenders to touch down.

Emanuel continued to pile on the pain for Walcountians in the second half and their speedy three-quarters opened up the visitors defence to put their full-back in for a try.

Walcountians were far from finished however and, two minutes later, flanker Josh Brown scored a stunning try after breaking down the left flank and leaving a stunned Emanuel defence in his wake.

But it was the home side which had the final word with a further try from a text book three-quarter move.

Walcountians ran out of replacements and were forced to bring 57-year old assistant coach Dave Rees on for most of the second half after winger Ben McDaniel and flanker Jonny Evans went off injured.

The veteran acquitted himself admirably and led a determined rearguard action which denied Emanuel a further score for the rest of the second half.

Next Saturday, Walcountians start their campaign in the RFU Junior Vase when they travel to Old Deer Park to take on London Welsh Amateurs. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Old Walcountians: Vadiveli, McDaniel, Wright, Housden, Eglon, Harrison, Henderson (James), Raynor, George, Anderson, Bell (Dom), Thornton, Evans, Brown, Henderson (Joe).

Subs: Bell (Dan), Moorhead, Rees.