Old Walcountians climbed off the bottom of Surrey League One on Saturday thanks to a dour 5-5 draw against Old Whitgiftians at Clock House.

The bad weather ensured that the match was one of only two taking place in the league, and unfortunately turned a potentially open game into a slow-paced affair.

Walcountians took time to get going and the visitors made all the early running, which led to them scoring from a rolling maul after just four minutes.

This brought Walcountians back to life, however, and their forwards began to take charge.

Prop Luke Raynor, lock Simon Fowler and flanker Joe Henderson lead a cavalry charge which pinned the visitors in their 22 for more than 10 minutes.

The forwards failed to make the breakthrough but, in the 20th minute, the backs did.

Scrum-half Will Diamond fed fly-half Fred South on the blind-side to put speedy winger Ryan McGibbon in to level proceedings.

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Gone: Fly-half Freddy South breaks through the Whitgiftian line

No further scores came in the rest of the game as both sides’ defences cancelled each other out.

The visitors often had the better control but it was Walcountians who displayed the more competitive aggression.

Walcountians had turnovers at crucial points in the game and showed a willingness to look for the break with Fred South and, after coming on, Callum Stone impressing.

It was Stone who came closest to winning the game for Walcountians.

On 25 minutes he sliced his way through Whitgiftians’ defence, only to be brought down just short of the line.

The home side were given a scare late on when Whitgiftians were awarded a kickable penalty seven minutes from full-time.

But the visitors failed to take advantage of their opportunity and Walcountians leapfrogged Kingston at the foot of the table.

Walcountians now face a crucial test next Saturday as they take on Old Blues in a match they must win to pull away from the relegation zone.

Kick-off at Arthur Road, Motspur Park, is at 2.30pm.

Old Walcountians: Beales, McGibbon, Davies, Bayles, Naylor, South (F), Diamond, Raynor, Adams, Cowlin (S), Bell, Fowler, South (J), Henderson, Connor.

Subs (all used): Cowlin (P), Harrison, Stone, Tutton.

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Powerful: Young prop Luke Raynor carries the ball into the Whitgiftian defence

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Muddy: Replacement centre Callum Stone injects life into the Walcountian back line as conditions deteriorate

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Seeya: Walcountian centre Steve Bayles makes a break