The penultimate game of Counties 4 Surrey saw early league pacesetters Old Freemens return to their unbeaten pre-Christmas form in a comprehensive victory over Warlingham at Hamsey Green, writes David Halliwell.

The strong Wars’ squad looked to build on an improved home performance last week in changeable conditions with hail storms coupled with bright spring sunshine testing the players. However Old Freemens possessed the x-factor game breaking players who could return excellent deep kicks from Warlingham fly-half Louis Rossi-Jones with interest, giving the visitors an early 0-15 lead with clever counter attacks from the back three.

The Wars’ pack started to work their way into the game with powerful running from lock Rory Sharp and the impactful back row trio of Jamie Hughes, Andrew Dearden and skipper Morgan Gillam. Props Alex Nunn and Matt Healey challenged Freemens defence and tackled tenaciously creating a competitive breakdown battle that the home side began to win. Man of the match Ollie Wilson drove defensive and offensive effort from centre and with consistent quick ball from talented young scrum-half Jackson Stevens caused Freemens to infringe, Rossi-Jones took the ball to the line and found Harry Cave’s perfect running line with a flat pass. Cave’s second try in two weeks from second row gave his side hope of a comeback.

In a pivotal moment just before half-time, Gillam was denied a carbon copy try crashing onto another short pass with the referee deeming the captain to be held up over the line just before halftime.

Nevertheless the game still seemed winnable for the Wars. With fresh forwards, Raphael Fudge, Nick Hammond, Tom Worrall and Spencer Clifford on the field to add strength and firepower, the home side went close to a crucial try again. Moses Bisatu’s threat in the centres gave Warlingham go forward as ever and wide passes to lively back three Fabio Monsellato-Boyd, Terrell Palmer-Simpson and Mark Chatfield showed signs of encouragement to the home supporters. But it was not to be. Freemens soaked up the best that the Wars could deliver in a whistle-heavy second stanza and burst away from long distance to add further scores to secure the bonus point and then add gloss to the score.

Warlingham sought a further score with powerful carries from Sharp, Fudge, Hughes and Wilson with evergreen Alex Glover now on to pull the blue and whites strings and emptied their collective tank of effort. The final whistle wasn’t long in coming however and the Wars must now turn their attention to the final league game at home vs Staines where a packed house of past players and members will gather for the annual Golden Oldies day. With the Under 22 side in action over the Easter weekend, the club will be looking for a big finish to the 25/26 campaign.

All photos: Hayley Sasserath
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