Unlucky Mitcham crashed out of the RFU Junior Vase at the first round stage with a narrow 24-22 defeat at Kent League Two leaders Shooters Hill, writes Tony Antoniou.

After arriving late, Mitcham were soon two tries down and, although centre Peter Zvitsai pulled a try back, Shooters Hill finished the first half stronger and led 24-5 at the break.

The second half was a different story with Mitcham gaining parity in the set pieces with particularly good work in the line out by Martin Timms.

This helped Mitcham find some form at last and came back into the game with some excellent play and were rewarded with tries by lock Simon Barnard and flankers Mark Whittall and Jake Odell with his first try for the seniors following his promotion from Mitcham's U18s.

Mitcham now had the game by the scruff of the neck and were desperately unlucky not to steal the game at the finish.

Firstly Zsitvai was unfortunate to lose possession of the ball after he crossed the line and then at the death winger Scott Honeyman-Baker was adjudged not to have grounded the ball over the line.

Mitcham return to League duty next Saturday with a local derby away to Merton.