A much changed but spirited Warlingham side saw their Communities Cup hopes ended with a home defeat to Brockleians at Hamsey Green, writes David Halliwell.

FINAL SCORE
Warlingham 12 - 25 Brockleians

The Kent side, playing a league higher over the county border, showed their class with five well-taken tries scored out wide, with their giant pack providing their well-drilled backs with opportunities to stretch the home side’s defence.

Wars competed hard however, and gave every ounce of effort from first minute to last. In fact, the opening period of the game saw Warlingham in the ascendancy. With evergreen props Alex Nunn and Simon Townsend bound together by powerful hooker Elliott Jones, the blue and whites troubled the much heavier visiting scrum. Spencer Clifford and Raphael Fudge got off the line and made impactful hits. Joe Kelly soared in the line out to give quick ball off the top providing the lively backline trio of Noah Clay, Moses Bisatu and Jackson Stevens opportunities. Man of the match Andrew Dearden was everywhere in attack and defence from number 8 - a truly all-action performance.

Brocks took the lead against the run of play through a succession of penalties and a formidable rolling maul marching downfield, eventually putting their right winger in for an unconverted try right in the corner.

But Warlingham bounced back to take the lead. After strong tackles from Nick Insall on his first team debut and Cam Sharp out wide forced turnovers, returning scrum-half Lewis Hazeldine launched an attack with quick thinking and an accurate kick ahead. Winning the race to the ball, Hazeldine retained possession with Fudge on hand to progress play up the left flank. With the referee playing advantage for a ruck infringement, fly-half Olly Wilson took the opportunity of a free ball and cleverly chip-chased his own kick but was obstructed from regathering and scoring a certain try. The referee’s whistle awarded a penalty try and Wars looked like being most likely to lead at the break. However, a quick double from Brocks took the wind from Warlingham’s sails, running into the same corner as before for two more unconverted tries. 7-15 at the break but all to play for.

Despite massive defensive efforts from back row Olly Gill and full-back Adam Downie-Keen, Brocks were able to dominate territory and possession in the second half. Replacements Terrell Palmer-Simpson and Roy Hart offered a renewed threat on the wings, but the home side struggled to exit their half on the wet and sticky pitch, and Brocks used their foothold to squeeze Warlingham up front and return clearances with interest from their back three. Two further unconverted Brocks tries in similar fashion on the right flank secured their place in the quarter finals of the cup. But Warlingham would not give up.

Wilson made a clean break wide down the left wing, galloping away from cover before finding impressive young centre Stevens who progressed the attack. Stevens skilfully offloaded the ball out of contact back inside and Tom Gowers arrived with an excellent support run to show neat soccer skills on the damp surface and dribble the ball under the posts before bravely scooping up the ball and plunging over for a well deserved maiden first team try.

As the game concluded, there were plenty of positives in defeat for Warlingham but the Hamsey Green side will hope to bounce back in their next match away at London French on 14 February.

All photos: Hayley Sasserath
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