A below-strength Old Walcountians pushed Surrey One pacesetters Old Paulines for most of Saturday’s match between and were unlucky not to have obtained a better outcome as they lost 28-18.

The Counts were missing several regular players, and had to call up no less than four second XV players into the starting lineup in centre Paul Griffin, props Jeff Lunn and Dan Bell and No 8 Jared Russell, while Jack South, normally a flanker, had to move to scrum-half.

But the league leaders soon found that the stand-in Walcountians were in no mood for surrender and pushed them hard in the first half, with props Lunn and Bell anchoring the scrum solidly and flanker Simon Fowler having an outstanding game in the loose.

The Walcountians backline took some time to get going, with too many chances breaking down due to mistimed distribution and solid Paulines defending but, in the 19th minute, they made a breakthrough.

Second phase possession led to the ball being moved swiftly to the threequarters where slick passing by centres Ollie Beales and Paul Griffin put winger Simon Manning clear in acres of space to touch down for the Counts’ opening score.

The visitors made no impact until close to half-time. A penalty in the 39th minute narrowed Walcountians’ lead and, five minutes into stoppage time, Paulines finally took the lead when their full-back joined the three-quarters and dummied inside to head for the tryline.

Walcountians were in no mood to give up and skipper Ollie Beales put the Counts back in the game after just two minutes of the second half with a penalty. Then, Walcountians suffered a setback. With one prop, Dan Bell, already off the field injured, they lost their other starting prop, Jeff Lunn, in the same way. With only one specialist prop on the field and no more replacements available, the game had to go to uncontested scrums.

Walcountians were still in the game for most of the second half, with a Fred South penalty being cancelled out by one from Paulines, and it was only in the closing stages that Paulines began to draw away.

A drop goal from their fly-half in the 27th minute was followed by a brace of tries in the 29th and 41st minutes.

Walcountians had one last surge as the game went into stoppage time and were awarded a penalty try in the 45th minute which Fred South converted.

Next Saturday, Walcountians travel to Cranleigh in an attempt to end the run of three successive League defeats. Kick-off at Wildwood Lane, Alfold Crossways is at 3pm.