However, playing up hill and against the wind on a chilly afternoon, Warlingham uncharacteristically started well and a fine break by scrum half Jon Perkins took him within ten metres of the try line.  With fly half James Agate steaming up on his right flank a try looked inevitable.  Unfortunately Perkins was hauled down before he could get the pass away and Charlton Park kept the score sheet clean. 

The Warlingham pack had the better of the set piece and their props Alex Nunn and Kieran Scutt helped hooker Dan Street take a ball against the head giving them confidence.  The home forwards were, however, more clinical in the loose and their rolling maul made ground at every opportunity. When Warlingham were under pressure on their own line a desperate kick out of defence was charged down and the Charlton Park back row pounced on the ball in the corner for an unconverted try.

Despite a huge kick by Agate deep into the Park territory the Charlton Park forwards mauled again and when Warlingham held up the ball carrier on the five metre line the referee Mr Gossip strangely awarded the scrum to the home side from which they scored their second try, which was duly converted. Frustration crept into the visitors game and when flanker Zak King was yellow-carded Charlton  Park took advantage of the extra man and repeated their rolling maul which resulted in their third try.

Warlingham remained determined and when speedy winger Jack Atkinson scythed through the defence they looked to be in try-scoring mode but the final pass went astray and the move failed.  This was followed by centre Ben Wimble disrupting a Park move, kicking ahead and leading the chase for the ball.  An ugly bounce meant a fumble and Park were again lucky not to concede a try.  Within minutes of the half time whistle Warlingham had two eminently kickable penalties but they looked for the quick tap-kick and a try on both occasions. Unfortunately the moves fizzled out and they remained scoreless at half time.

Playing with the elements in the second half Warlingham raised a gear and a clever kick out of defence by Perkins forced another kickable penalty.  The kick was again spurned but Agate's quick tap and run followed by a well timed pass to Jon Osborne, gave the winger the first Warlingham try of the afternoon.  The difficult touchline conversion from Atkinson shaved the outside of the posts. A Park flanker was harshly yellow-carded and it was Warlingham's turn to take advantage.  A five metre scrum and several phases of pick 'n drive ended when centre Tom Street forced his way over the tryline.  Again Atkinson's conversion was close but unsuccessful. Substitute prop Tony Williams replaced Scutt but within minutes he was yellow-carded for repeated offside offences and Park resorted to type, mauled well and secured their bonus point try thus ensuring a play off game for promotion.  After the game head coach Street said,"The lads stuck to their task all game and, with a bit of luck we could have stolen the points. Charlton Park were worthy winners but we are improving game on game."

Warlingham's final league game of the season is against runaway league leaders East Grinstead on 28th April.

Warlingham: Nunn, D Street, Scutt, Ray, Delderfield, Murphy, King, Fair, Perkins, Agate(Capt), Atkinson, Wimble, T Street, Osborne, A Skinner

Substitutes: Williams, McEvoy

Warlingham Second XV beat Mayfair Occasionals to win their Surrey League, captain Dicky Long will receive the trophy at the Surrey Rugby Awards Dinner at Twickenham on 24th May.  Former Warlingham Chairman, Paul Agate, who is the President if Surrey Rugby, will make the presentation.

Warlingham Sevens Side won the Old Caterhamians Seven-a-Side competition over Easter, beating Worth, Metropolitan Police, IMLA, Thundercats and Beckenham - all without having a point scored against them - until they came up against Esher in the final.  A thrilling encounter saw Warlingham emerge winners by 33pts to 31pts to be worthy winners of the trophy.  Warlingham's next Sevens Tournament is at Canterbury on 29th April.

On a cold Easter Saturday  Warly Wizards weaved a magic spell to start their sevens season with a bang by beating Esher 33-31 in a tightly contested final.They played with style,panache and aplomb to amass over 250 points on the route to the final by beating such teams as Worth Old Boys, Met Police,Thundercats and Beckenham. Well done to all the players. Also, thanks to the second team who had to withdraw from the plate competition due to injuries. 

Dates for other Sevens tournaments are: Canterbury  Sunday 29th April, Guildford Saturday 12th May, Rugby Rocks Saturday 26 th May, Bournemouth 1st, 2nd,3rd  June, Newquay Saturday 30th June, Surrey 7’s 21st July

Warlingham 19pts -v- Brighton 27pts

This close encounter followed the Annual Golden Oldies lunch at Warlingham where over 170 former players enjoyed the sunny afternoon - if not the final score..

The the lead change hands five times before third placed Brighton managed to shut Warlingham out of the game but only as a result of two Warlingham tries being disallowed.  Brighton showed why they are promotion chasers by starting with a well worked try with only five minutes on the clock.  Their pacy back line did the damage and they threatened at every opportunity throughout the game.  However, Warlingham's defence has improved as the season has progressed and blocking tackles from prop Alex Nunn and flanker Zac King stemmed the visitors. 

When the Brighton centre McGovern was yellow carded Warlingham had an enhanced sense of urgency, took advantage of the extra man and a well struck penalty from winger Jack Atkinson closed the score gap. The Warlingham pack drove well with hooker Dan Street and No 8 Mike Fair tearing holes in the Brighton defence. 

From several well worked phases Warlingham shoveled the ball to centre Ben Wimble who did his pin-ball impression, bouncing off defenders to score in the corner.  With a sharp wind crossing the field the conversion looked impossible but Atkinson nailed it to give the home side a five point advantage.  Fly half Harry Wrightson looked elusive as he made a number of nifty breaks but Brighton sharpened up and defended well. A wayward kick to the Brighton centre and some soft half tackles allowed Brighton to score a converted try and retake the lead.  A Wrightson break was followed by some slick passing and Warlingham appeared to have scored another good try in the corner, but the referee adjudged a forward pass and the move went unrewarded.  Atkinson was successful with a long, touchline penalty giving Warlingham the most slender of leads at half time.

Both sides seemed to have got the measure of each other and defended stoutly but Atkinson put Warlingham well into the driving seat with a further two penalty successes.  A further wave of attacks from Warlingham again got them across the try line but, again, the referee adjudged no try. Brighton were not done and from a counter attack got their third, unconverted try to edge closer with the scores.  A fourth try gave them the lead and and Warlingham had to dig deep to stem the tide of attacks.  In doing so lock Nick Ray was yellow-carded and the tiring home side, with a man down, submitted to a final try for Brighton and the visitors had the game won.  After the game head coach Tom Street said, "Considering Brighton are close to the top of our league I was proud at the way the lads took the game to them and, with a bit more luck, we could have taken the points."

Warlingham: Nunn, D Street, Scutt, Robson, J Delderfield, Fair, King, Murphy, Perkins, Agate (Capt), Atkinson, Wrightson, Wimble, Skinner, McEvoy

Substitutes: T Street, Saffery, Ray.

Next Saturday Warlingham enter the Caterham Seven-a-Side Competition followed by a difficult away League game to second placed Charlton Park.

With several players absent with injury or non-availability Warlingham still anticipated giving the improving visitors a close encounter. A colour clash saw Warlingham having to play in their alternative green strip and the absence of their blue and white shirts was accompanied by the absence their normal behind-the-line tackling which allowed Lewes to penetrate the gain line with ease. An early lead from a try by the Lewes right winger could have been reduced by an eminently kickable penalty which Warlingham full back Joe McEvoy struck wide. 

The Lewes pack were in control and secured good, early possession for their pacy back line and two further unconverted tries followed, despite Warlingham picking up the pace and spending time on the Lewes try line without emerging with a score. Scrum half Jon Perkins tried in vain to test the visitor's defence and hooker Dan Street marauding at every opportunity despite an ugly looking eye injury.  The ubiquitous centre Ben Wimble saved a certain try with an ankle tapping tackle but Lewes rounded off the first half with an easy penalty putting them eighteen points to the good.

With flanker Jon Dowling off injured, winger Jon Osborne joined the pack and livened up the Warlingham forwards with two solo efforts to break the Lewes stranglehold on the game. But the visitors' defence held firm and Warlingham were unable to secure sufficient possession to string phases together.  When they had the ball their retention was also awry and Lewes snapped up any loose balls and made yards at every opportunity. Dan Street retired with his eye injury being replaced by brother Tom at hooker. The constant pressure from Lewes was rewarded with three further tries, all taken with aplomb.

In the late stages of the game, when Lewes were indubitably home and dry, Warlingham struck back with a consolation try when Perkins cleverly chipped forward and quickly recycled ball reached McEvoy on the left wing. He outstripped the defence to score in the corner.  The referee, Stephen Wagstaff, then brought the game to a close with the final whistle with Warlingham well beaten but still firmly established mid-table of this strong league.  After the game, Warlingham coach Peter Wrightson said, "After our recent performances we felt we were in with a chance today but Lewes took all their chances and denied us any decent possession.  A disappointing afternoon for us."

Warlingham: J.Delderfield, D Street, Scutt,L Delderfield, Robson (capt), Luxford, Dowling, Wiseman, Perkins, Saffery, Atkinson,Osborne, Wimble, Skinner, McEvoy.

Subs:T Street, Davies, Doe.