Old Walcountians went down 19-6 to Kingston at the Clock House to remain third from bottom of Surrey Division One.

The Old Boys were missing the services of mercurial half-backs Tom and Will Diamond and, although otherwise at full-strength, missed their ability to open up defences. 

The forwards also had a testing afternoon against a powerful and well-drilled Kingston pack and, although they lacked nothing in commitment and were effective in loose play, with lock Simon Fowler and flankers Remy Claustres and Joe Henderson excelling, they came off second best in the scrums, line-outs and mauls.

Kingston also showed pace and skill in their backs, allied to a tight defence which successfully contained their Walcountians counterparts. 

The Old Boys’ best chance came when winger Ryan McGibbon intercepted a pass close to their 22 and looked on course for a spectacular breakaway try when he was hauled down by his opposite number.

The first 20 minutes were dominated by penalties with Walcountians’ full-back Ross Norton and the Kingston fly-half each scoring a brace. 

The match remained level until close to half-time when Kingston launched a second phase attack after their three-quarters had been checked, which was finished by their left-winger going in for a try.

Walcountians had the slope in their favour in the second half, but were unable to turn the game round. 

Kingston extended their lead with a penalty in the 20th minute and, one minute from full-time, sealed victory when their pack drove over from a maul set up from a lineout.

The closing stages of the game were marred by several scuffles as tempers flared, and centre Sam Naylor was sin-binned shortly before the end of the game.

Walcountians remain out of the drop zone with relegation rivals Old Wimbledonians, Cranleigh and Croydon also losing. 

Next Saturday, they take Battersea Ironsides of Division Two in a friendly.  Kick-off at Field View, Earlsfield, is at 2.15pm.