Festive cheer filled Hamsey Green as the club convened for its Christmas Lunch, but Crainleigh spoiled the celebrations with a hard-won victory in a close-fought affair. Here’s the write up from Senior player, Adam Downie-Keen.

Warlingham were left to rue a late knock-on as Cranleigh edged a fiercely contested encounter, despite a courageous defensive shift and moments of attacking brilliance from the home side.

Cranleigh struck first, capitalising on early territory. A dominant scrum provided the platform, and after a couple of tight phases, they created an overlap on the nearside, allowing the winger to dive over for the opening score.

Warlingham hit back straightaway. A penalty to the corner set up a well-drilled line-out drive, and after several pick-and-goes, Lucas Bibb (6) powered over. Moments later, a near-carbon copy followed: another penalty to touch, another strong maul, and this time prop Tom Worral (1) emerged with the try, giving Warlingham a deserved lead.

Momentum seemed to be with both sides as Cranleigh dotted down again not long after the restart after sustained pressure caused an overlap. Cranleigh threatened again before the break, only to be denied by a tactical yellow card from Raphael Fudge (4), who snuffed out what looked a certain score. Down to 14, Warlingham showed immense grit, surviving the ten-minute period without conceding. The whistle for half-time sounded with the hosts still firmly in the contest with Cranleigh leading 10-12.

The second half opened at a frenetic pace with end-to-end action. Cranleigh’s ill-discipline earned them a team yellow, and Warlingham immediately pounced. A brilliant, scything run from full-back Mark Chatfield (15) cut the visitors open and carried play deep into the 22. Quick recycled ball forced Cranleigh into another cynical infringement, reducing them to 13 men.

Warlingham made the numerical advantage count: a kick to the corner, a beautifully controlled maul, this time against just six forwards, and after a few Warly backs joined in, Andrew Dearden (7) crashed over to restore the lead at 15-12.

But Cranleigh struck back swiftly afterwards. A loose pass from Warlingham was picked off, and the interception was run beneath the posts to swing momentum again at 15-19.

Phase after phase followed, with Moses Bisatu (13) breaking the line, offloading to Chatfield, and the ball eventually shifting inside from Louis Rossi-Jones (10) to Oliver Wilson (12), taking play to within inches. With Cranleigh’s defence flooding the nearside, Louis smartly switched play to the outside, allowing Moses to draw the last defenders and put Fabio Monsellato-Boyd (14) in the corner.

As possession changed hands repeatedly, Warlingham suffered another setback when Elliot Jones (17) was shown a team yellow.

In the dying moments, Cranleigh kicked to the corner once more and, after several punishing phases, drove over to reclaim the advantage at 22–26.

With nothing left on the clock, Noah Clay (11) collected Louis’ hanging restart kick and thundered into the 5-metre channel. Warlingham hammered the line again, only for a knock-on at the crucial moment to bring the contest to a heartbreaking close.

A narrow defeat in a frenetic game between two well-matched sides, but Warlingham came out on the wrong side of the clock at the end. A performance full of character, steel, and promise for the matches ahead.

All photos: Matt Talboys
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