The fields of Hamsey Green have seen it all in the club’s 100 years. Glorious wins, painful losses and everything in between. The qualities of resilience, determination, will to win and team-work are all woven into the club’s badge by those players that have gone before. This pride endures in the current side. Continuing to pick yourself up in adversity requires spirit and these men have this in abundance. A first win of the season for these stalwarts and talented youngsters is just reward for their fighting spirit
Make no mistake, this season has been tough. But this victory has been coming for a couple of months. 2023 has seen vastly improved performances under the new coaching team of former first team captain, Jonathan Fox, coaching guru John Hoskens and the hugely experienced player-coach Lew Brown. Warlingham’s story points to a bright future, lining up with five players under 21 years and fifteen of the 18 man squad from the youth system. The second team featured exciting youngsters in their game this weekend and the veterans also featured this weekend. There is work still to do but there is increased positivity in players and supporters alike.
To the game, and the blue and whites meant business from the off, although an early long-range penalty from the visitors gave them the lead. Captain Brad Saffrey, back in at fly half, challenged the defence with his strength and footwork. Choosing the right option and executing well at the right time either through the hands, off the boot or with his running game. Centres Dowling and Wilson crashed through the line time and again and the exciting back three of youngsters Monroe, Hamilton and Wand stretched the defence with their pace. Cranleighians scored a converted try against the run of play and nerves could easily have set in but the opposite was true. Warlingham turned to their pack and the basics. Serial man of the match Lew Brown bossed proceedings alongside front-row colleagues Kelly and James Delderfield. OCs couldn’t live with their power and Gillam, Cooke, Richardson and Luke Delderfield were muscular and physical all day in attack and defence. Nathan Brown was everywhere all day and following long periods of territory and pick and go from the tireless pack, he dummied from the base of the ruck to score from a yard. Hamilton kicked the extras to send Warlingham in at half time just 3 points down.
Coach Fox wasn’t satisfied at half time and delivered his words back in the changing rooms. It was Cranleighians, however, who had benefitted from the breather more though and they scored first in the corner. Their kicker hit the crossbar with his conversion attempt.
Warlingham utilised their fresh legs off the bench with the grit and work-rate of Devlin called upon alongside Alex Glover, who sought to add a spark to the back division. Young hooker Tyrik Maseruka made his debut off the bench and he has a bright future, getting around the park and carrying well.
Warlingham showed patience, maturity and leadership and applied pressure. Working through phase after phase of possession, weaponising their forward dominance and then opening up play with quick ball, the OCs defence started to creak, concede penalties and panic. Warlingham’s defence was cruel too with massive hits from Dowling, Kelly and the Delderfield brothers forcing errors from the visitors. From a huge scrum drive close to the OCs line, scrum half Edwards forced an error from his opposite number, whose loose pass evaded the Cranleighians’ winger and Callum ‘Magic’ Wand snaffled the ball to score in the corner. Hamilton narrowly missed the conversion but Warlingham were well on top.
The winning try came from Warlingham playing without the shackles of pressure on their shoulders. Warlingham were direct, Saffrey got Warlingham in the right part of the pitch and smart handling by backs and forwards opened up space in the outside channels for the lightning quick young gun Monroe and the swashbuckling veteran Glover. Moving the ball from coast to coast, Nathan Brown hit a fine line between defenders out wide and dashed through against the grain to beat the cover defence. Massive cheers from the sideline and celebrations from the players but the game was not over. Hamilton added the conversion and Warlingham were ahead for the first time. Warlingham continued to play with pace and control and forced a further breakdown penalty which Hamilton also nervelessly slotted.
Cranleighians responded with desperation in the final minutes. Winning the ball back from the restart they penned Warlingham back on their own line with the gap of just seven points. But Warlingham’s forwards would not be beaten by the visitors rolling maul. Resilience and will to win to the fore, with no little experience and the streetwise ability to hold out by any means possible. The men from Hamsey Green simply would not yield and the referee’s final whistle was met with wild celebrations from the players. Happiness and relief in equal measure. That elusive feeling of victory could not be contained. The joy around the club showed how much it meant to so many and the players singing could be heard loudly through the night.
A massive thank you to everyone that has contributed to this win. The players are so grateful for all of the support and look to build on that winning feeling away at high-flying Chobham next Saturday.

Words by David Halliwell