It was a very cold and overcast afternoon that Warlingham first team lined up with Andover and took to the field holding the minutes silences of Remembrance and sadly the passing of former 1st team captain David C Foulds who passed away last week
With the rain starting to fall Warlingham kicked off and pressurised Andover with the forwards dominating the centre of the pitch and some nicely worked line outs and scrums. Warlingham started to dominate the passages of play and territory.
Andover had been taken by surprise with Warlingham’s quick ball and running backs and although the rain was making handling very difficult Warlingham kept probing into Andover’s half finally resulting in a well worked lineout and drive with No2 Alex Kelly going over the try line
As the rain became heavier Warlingham and Andover where both having difficulty holding on to the ball and the pitch greasier. Penalties against both sides were roughly equal and the game was really being dictated by the squally wind and rain.
Warlingham’s quick ball from the scrum and rucks gave them time to spread the ball nicely across the pitch and it was not long before Warlingham broke Andover defensives for a second time with some direct running No 12 Dylan Teasdale who went over the whitewash from a combined forwards and backs attack.
Warlingham looked in full control as the half time whistle blew. As the second half started it looked like Warlingham wouldn’t take long before there might be another score on the cards with Warlingham still maintaining a strong presence in Andover’s half. The weather was beginning to affect the pitch and as the rain fell heavier and the pitch turning into a quagmire both sides were finding it difficult to take control of the game.
Andover started to claw themselves back into the game more and more with Warlingham finding themselves pinned into their own half for the first time of the game. Andover managed to apply more and more pressure and squeezed Warlingham further into one corner of the downward slope moving the ball from right and left. Andover’s onslaught was relentless and for considerable time Warlingham was well and truly on the back foot with tremendous defending. Warlingham defensive line held firm and Andover just couldn’t find that final pass or movement to their frustration. Andover were rewarded for their sustained attack a three-point penalty on the board.
The last 10 minutes of the game saw Andover trying to get into Warlinghams half with Warlingham breaking out with some great run lines and handling despite the slippery conditions.
With the final whistle approaching the weather deteriorated even further and both Warlingham and Andover where struggling to keep a foot hold on the slippery surface or hold on to the ball with neither team being able to make any headway. As the final scrum was taken and final whistle blew it was two wet, muddy and wind swept teams who trudged wearily off the pitch with the final score 10-3 to Warlingham.