Rugby: Disaster for Hollioake in Warlingham debut (From Croydon Guardian)

Rugby: Disaster for Hollioake in Warlingham debut

3:14pm Thursday 12th February 2004 in

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Warlingham 3 London Exiles 36

Former Surrey and England cricket captain Adam Hollioake's debut for Warlingham in Surrey League One on Saturday could not prevent the bottom club suffering its 11th defeat of the season.

And as Warlingham trudged off the Hamsey Green pitch following their 36-3 drubbing against London Exiles, inside centre Hollioake was probably more disappointed than anyone else.

"That's the worst I've ever felt after a game of sport," Hollioake said. "I've played sport at different levels all my life, and I've tended to be fortunate to be involved with successful teams, like at Surrey.

"Of course, those teams have lost games before, but I never ended up feeling the way I did on Saturday night. I was bitterly upset."

Warlingham started the second half brightly, despite already being 14-0 down. And with Williams at scrum-half and wing Perez looking quick on the break.

They quickly converted territorial advantage into points with a penalty just two minutes into the second half.

But London Exiles responded with three tries, two of which were converted, plus a penalty.

The home side struggled to make use of the plentiful ball their forwards were winning.

It meant that Hollioake's new rugby career started on the wrong end of a cricket score.

"I thought we had a chance of winning that game at one point," said Hollioake. "I guess that's why it was so disappointing, the way we fell away in the second half."

Bottom of the Surrey One table with just one win in the league all season, Warlingham now have a month of crucial fixtures against fellow strugglers against relegation, starting at Old Cranleighans this Saturday.