Warlingham fell to defeat against a strong London Media side whose power game blew the visitors away in the first half, writes David Halliwell.

From the off, Media started to win the collisions with determined running and their simple, effective game plan resulted in two quick tries in either corner of the small Battersea Park pitch. Under the posts and in the shadow of the famous power station chimneys, Warlingham needed to regroup and gain a foothold in the game.

With the hard yards carried by player of the match Andrew Dearden, Nick Hammond and Elliott Jones, the Wars began to open up Media. Flanker Lucas Bibb showed some good touches before leaving the field injured and through great shape and handling from Louis Rossi-Jones, Oliver Wilson and Moses Bisatu, winger Noah Clay was twice able to find an overlap to burst past his winger on the left flank before being halted by the cover defence. However, Media reasserted the momentum going downhill and added to their tally with a try from first phase off a scrum before adding a further two scores from pick-and-goes close to the line that Warlingham struggled to repel.

A tough half-time talk for skipper Morgan Gillam to deliver at 27-0 down but it seemed to do the trick as Warlingham were able to win the second half. A renewed sting in their tackles typified by hooker Olly Gill and lock Harry Cave shifted momentum to the visitors. Young scrum half Jackson Stevens gave the side direction and zip around the rucks with Mark Chatfield, Jonah Clay and Cam Sharp threatening in the wide channels.

The Wars scores came from their two young pack stars who are growing their influence and importance to the team week after week. Raphael Fudge provided the finishing touch to a formidable driving maul that scattered Media‘s forwards with Spencer Clifford providing muscular assistance to a whole pack effort. Then teenage prop forward Tom Worrall went over for a great team try, his second score in consecutive matches. Warlingham were battering at the door, enjoying a period of dominance, and when Wilson carried the ball close to the line and stood in the tackle his offload to a rampaging Worrall saw the loose head plunge over. Rossi-Jones was accurate with both conversions.

With the game becoming more fractious and bad tempered, Warlingham again camped in the Media half testing the tiring defence, however a late tackle from an offside position on Wars’ fly-half Rossi-Jones sparked a last play melee with a red card for either side before the final whistle.

A tough day at the office for Warlingham who will look to bounce back at home to the league’s top side Old Freemens, to conclude a rapidly improving end to 2025, with Christmas lists and New Year’s resolutions hoping for consistency and a bit of luck for the second half of the Counties 4 Surrey season.

All photos: Hayley Sasserath
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