London Two South East
Heathfield & Waldren 10 Warlingham 19
THE investment of Heathfield & Waldren in their pitch paid dividends on Saturday as the game was
one of only two played in this division - and many other divisions - as a result of the continuing downpours.
Warlingham were buoyed by their emphatic win before Christmas and continued their resurgence with a three
try win over their bottom-of-the-table opponents.
Much against the run of play Heathfield slotted a well struck penalty to take an initial lead but a kick ahead by
Warlingham number ten James Agate put him clear. A further hack forward and he clearly dived on the ball for the first try.
To everyone's surprise the referee, who was some way behind the play, decided he didn't see the touch down and ordered
a 22 drop out. Both sets of spectators scratched their heads in bewilderment, but this was not to be the only controversial
decision during the game. Warlingham's pick and drive by Finnish international No 8 Mikal Ahola and captain Zack King took
Warlingham back into home territory. The Delderfield brothers forming the engine room at second row showed great determination
and dependable prop Alex Nunn defended with his usual aplomb. From a quick penalty scrum half Joe McEvoy fed the ball to King
who slithered over the tryline for the first score. McEvoy converted. In the driving rain Heathfield forced themselves over the Warlingham
tryline only for the referee, to the chagrin of the home spectators, to adjudge they ball had been held up.
After the half time break Heathfield continued to press and a quick recycled ball gave their centre a clear un in for a converted try.
Heathfield then appeared to tire in the heavy conditions and the Warlingham pack, with prop Antony Abou-Zeid steady as a rock, came into
ascendancy and Ahola made the most of the forward momentum scoring from a rolling maul. McEvoy again added the extras. Repeated
drives from the Warlingham pack earned them a penalty deep in the Heathfield 22. The kick for goal was spurned and the quick tap eventually
found experienced winger Mark Kozminski who crashed through for the third try.
Heathfield fought hard and perhaps deserved more reward but forward passes and knocked on balls deprived them of a score and possible losing
bonus point.
Warlingham: Nunn, Abou-Zeid, Scutt, J Delderfield, L Delderfield, Street, King, Ahola, McEvoy, Agate,Skinner, Saffery, Davies, Osborne, Wrightson
Fair, Kozminski, Stobart.
