Warlingham defeated late on (From Surrey Comet)

Warlingham defeated late on

10:58am Monday 30th January 2012 in Other Rugby By Peter Upton

Warlingham fell to a last-gasp 33-30 defeat to Deal & Betteshanger on Saturday.

Having trailed for the majority of the game, Warlingham squeezed into the lead with just six minutes left on the clock but were thwarted at the last knockings by a determined Deal side whose domination up front for long periods of play earned them the points.

Warlingham started off well when flanker Zak King fielded the kick off and made good ground back into the Deal half.

An early long range penalty, converted by full back Joe McEvoy gave Warlingham the lead.

A penalty miss by Deal was forgotten when their pack discovered that they had weight advantage and, after 20 minutes, scored a push over try from a five metre scrum.

The try was converted and closely followed by a successful penalty and Deal were in the driving seat.

However, the fit Warlingham pack forced several penalties from Deal and McEvoy again added three points.

Scrum half, Jon Perkins, returning after a long period sidelined with injury, showed considerable perkiness and made several darting runs into the Deal half. Lock Luke Delderfield made good ground and from the resulting ruck Perkins burrowed through for his first try. The conversion from McEvoy evened the scores as the teams changed ends for half time.

After the break, the penalty-strewn game lost its intensity, but after swapping successful penalties, Deal moved the ball swiftly left and right, stretching the Warlingham defence to score an unconverted try by the right corner flag.

Deal continued to pressurise the Warlingham line earning them another penalty.

Warlingham prepared for the kick at the posts but the Deal scrum half quickly opted for a tap and caught the visitors napping - an converted try ensued putting the home side 12 points ahead and the game seemingly beyond the Warlingham grasp.

With the Street brothers gaining ground and King, Ben Murphy and Neil Robson playing supporting roles, Warlingham camped on the Deal line. Perkins dummied from a ruck and dived over for his second try converted by McEvoy.

Warlingham sensed victory and raised their game to white hot intensity. Showing excellent back line moves they looking dangerous with the ball in hand. After several phases of play, centre Ben Wimble, doing his regular pin-ball impression, bounced through several Deal defenders to score a fine solo try.

McEvoy converted and Warlingham were two points ahead with the clock running down.

Unfortunately Deal were not done and their forwards found new energy to exert extreme pressure on the Warlingham try line. Despite some desperate defending Deal scrambled a fourth, bonus point try. With Warlingham playing catch-up rugby for the remaining five minutes, Deal clung on to the advantage and were ecstatic to have won only their third game of the season.

After the game captain James Agate said: "Deal are always difficult to play away and they deserved the win but I was proud that the lads came back from a 12 point deficit to run them close."

Next Saturday Warlingham have the difficult away game against runaway league leaders East Grinstead.

Warlingham: Abou-Zeid, D Street, J Delderfield, L Delderfield, Robson, King, Murphy, Fair, Perkins, Agate, Osborne, T Street, Wimble, Saffery, McEvoy Subs, Scutt, A Skinner, Campbell