Warlingham defy the weather to see off the challenge of Lewes

They were more delighted when they ran out 14-8 winners over the London Division two South East strugglers.

Both teams struggled to put together any continuity of play with knocked on balls littering the match and frustration set in with the stop-start conditions.

In the first half, Warlingham's Joe McEvoy grabbed three penalties but Lewes clawed their way back into the game with a penalty and a scrambled unconverted try to put themselves just one point adrift.

Warlingham were denied try-scoring opportunities when the ball was knocked on in sight of the line.

Number eight Ollie Dodwell was his usual ubiquitous self putting in hard tackles and generally disrupting the Lewes forays.

Veteran Ben Wiseman, Kris Ailes and Adam Downey-King came on as substitutes in the second half and Downey-King, in particular, adapted well to the conditions and made some telling incursions into the Lewes territory.

With five minutes left on the clock Lewes were awarded a penalty which would have given them the lead.

The kick was missed and Warlingham cleared their lines and counter-attacked. Yet another Lewes knock on was scooped up by winger Jon Osborne who scooted through the Lewes defence to score a try in the corner.

The conversion was missed but Warlingham had secured a valuable home victory in this difficult league, but remain in the lower half of the league.

After the game Warlingham chairman, Peter Wrightson said: "The conditions didn't suit us but it's satisfying to get the four points for the win."

Next Saturday Warlingham host bottom-of-the-table Aylesford Bulls and must get back on the winning trail to climb up the table.

Warlingham: McEvoy, A Skinner, Osborne, Saffery, Wallace, Morrison, Murtagh, Scutt, J Delderfield, Abou-Zeid, Iannou, L Delderfield, T Street, Dodwell, King (Capt), Ailes, Downey-King, Wiseman.

Booo: Warlingham conceded a try

Bloodied: Warlingham skipper Jack King

Push over: Jon Osbourne is held up by the Lewes defence