Chris Robshaw was not the only former Warlingham player to turn out for England at Twickenham last Saturday.
Kay Wilson: another former Warlingham player now established in the England team
Kay Wilson, 21, who played mini-rugby at Hamsey Green, scored England’s opening try against France in the women’s international that followed the men’s Six Nations game.
Without any women’s teams at Warlingham, Wilson moved on once mixed rugby was no longer possible, and had a couple of seasons at Richmond before signing for Bristol after finishing her university studies at Cardiff.
Saturday was the wing’s 14th full England cap, and Warlingham has one of Wilson’s England shirts framed and on the wall in the clubhouse, in pride of place alongside Robshaw’s.
The men’s first XV at Wilson’s former club struggled on Saturday losing 25-12 against promotion-chasing Crowborough at home in their London and South-East 2SE match.
The home side was 9-8 ahead at half-time, thanks to three penalties scored by Mark Kozminski, in a game where the icy north wind made handling errors common on both sides and forced the players and the referee return to the changing rooms at the break just to get warm.
Early into the second half, Crowborough’s pack were in the ascendancy and, when Warlingham were penalised at the scrum, the referee awarded a penalty try. Crowborough rejoiced but Kozminski pinned the difference back to three points with his fourth successful penalty.
When the Crowborough winger was yellow-carded for abusing the Warlingham touch judge – not a unique occurrence, it has to be said – the home side pressed hard and drives by prop Kieran Scutt and the lively scrum-half Steven Murtagh were thwarted at the last gasp by a sound Crows defence.
A forward drive by the fitter Crowborough pack resulted in a try under the posts. The conversion was added and the outcome was sealed.
“We prepared well for this key game and it’s disappointing not to come away with some points,” Ben Stobart, the Warlingham coach, said. “Nevertheless, all 18 players gave their all and we will work hard in our training sessions next week to prepare for next week’s game at Aylesford.”
The only other local side in action at the weekend was Old Mid-Whitgiftians, who won their London SE 3SW game against Ellingham and Ringwood 45-23 at Lime Meadow Avenue.
Top try: Mid-Wives’ Joe Baul was named man of the match on Saturday. Photograph by Peter Filewood
Mids played a fast and sometimes frantic pace of rugby, dominating the break down area. In particular lock Mark Handley was instrumental in gaining many turnovers. Soon, a Mids attack allowed Mark Macaskill to score his first try, which Dan Crouch converted.
Soon after the re-start, flanker Joe Baulf was instrumental in chasing up a kick, and was able to break the line to score a second try.
Following a try by the team from the New Forest, Mid-Wives fought back with a series of forward pick and drives, marshalled by scrum half Jacob Bacon, and once again No8 Macaskill was able to cross the line.
With hooker Tim Jupp and prop Nat Bacon, supported by Temitope Okenla, making the hard yards, from one ruck, Jacob Bacon swung the ball out wide to winger Pritchard, who scored in the corner. With the conversion missed, the score was 29-13 just before half-time.
Injuries to skipper Okenla and Baulf saw Mid-Wives forced into making key changes into the second half, but after an initial penalty, the home side conceded another try.
With Mid-Wives’ forwards dominating the scrums and Ellingham unable to counter the rolling maul, the home side’s backs had a perfect platform from which to launch their attacks. However, a series of mistakes only led to penalties and turnovers.
As Crouch’s kicking kept the scoreboard ticking over, his next penalty was kicked into the corner. With Handley catching the ball, Mids pack steamrolled their way over the line, leaving Dave Spedding the easy job of scoring the try.
Ellingham, however, were hungry for the losing bonus point, and this paid off when they scored their fourth try, the final score coming in the dying moments of the game as Stanton got a try.
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