Sutton & Epsom RFC scrum half Stephen Munford is claiming a world record after scoring a try an astonishing 7.5 seconds from the start of a match.
Munford, a 19-year-old university student, was playing against Richmond in the semi-final of the Incentive FM Surrey Cup.
He chased the ball from the kick-off, charged down the Richmond full back's attempted clearance kick, gathered the ball and dived over the goalline for the try - all in 7.5 seconds according to his club's estimate.
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"The match was recorded on DVD and the timing was measured from the moment the referee blew the whistle to start the match to the moment he blew the whistle to award the try," said Corinne Munford, Steve's mother.
"We have filled in the forms required provided to us by Guinness World Records and are waiting to hear their adjudication."
Leeds Carnegie centre Lee Blackett was credited with the fastest try in the history of the Guinness Premiership when he dotted the ball down in 8.28 seconds against Newcastle Falcons at Headingley on Friday March 21, 2008.
But Sutton & Epsom believe Steve Munford's score - on Friday March 14 a week before Blackett's effort - was even quicker and they have applied to Guinness World Records to verify it as the fastest in senior rugby union.
"We had been beaten heavily by Richmond in a league match the previous weekend," said Munford.
"So at the start of the semi-final I thought I really want to get involved' and it was head-down, go for it.
"Normally I'd be hanging back for any knock-downs from our second rows and flankers chasing the kick-off.
"But this time I chased the ball all the way through, it seemed to take their full back so long to kick it, and when I got close I thought he must hit it into my body.
"When I scored I couldn't believe it. Most of my team were on the halfway line, and there wasn't much reaction from the crowd because half of them hadn't arrived yet."
A recent copy of the book of Guinness World Records noted only the fastest try in the Rugby World Cup which was by Australia centre Elton Flatley after 18 seconds against Romania in Brisbane in 2003.
But it is believed the Guinness World Record for the fastest try in any senior match was 8 seconds by Andrew Brown for Widden Old Boys against Old Ashtonians in 1990.
The time for the fastest try in international rugby is believed to be 10 seconds, held jointly by Scotland centre John Leslie against Wales on February 6, 1999 and Bart Price for England against Wales on January 20, 1923.
"It would be fantastic to get in the record books," said Munford, who is studying Classics at University College London.
"I tuned into the TV coverage at half-time of the Leeds match when Lee Blackett scored his try and I was watching the replays. I guess I was just hoping it took longer than mine."
To see Steve Munford's try, click here: http://www.rfu.com/video/munford_try.wmv
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