Warlingham 15pts -v- Deal & Betteshanger 35pts

Warlingham had not conceded a try in the league to date and prided themselves on a tightly locked defence. However, Deal & Betteshanger found the key, unlocked the door and on four occasions scored tries to gain, not only the win but the bonus point. The teams traded penalties in the first five minutes but the Warlingham scrum was creaking in the first quarter and penalised frequently by the referee. They were therefore not able to bring fluidity to their game until their scrum gained some ascendancy and a swift movement from full back James Agate, together with a slick return from centre Ben Wimble, gave them some momentum. The move was eventually snuffed out by the Deal defence.

Warlingham's lineout worked well with both Jack Wrightson and Ollie Dodwell winning clean ball. Nevertheless Deal converted
a second penalty and very quickly afterwards their speedy winger eluded two weak tackles and scored an unconverted try in the corner. Warlingham persevered and fly half Mark Kozminski kicked two further penalties to bring the home side within two points at half time.

A half time rally from captain Zack King stirred Warlingham who took the initiative, forced the pace with yardage gained by prop Kieran Scutt and Dodwell. A fourth Kozminski penalty put Warlingham in the lead but Deal went ahead from yet another penalty. Their back line were gaining confidence and a number of phases of play saw Warlingham on the rack. Agate made along run down the left flank but, lacking in support the move came to nothing. A long shot from Kozminski
put Warlingham back into the lead but the Deal pack took control and, with Warlingham standing off the tackles, scored two tries in quick succession. Deal rounded of the scoring with the best move of the afternoon when their full back came into the line at pace,shrugged off desperate half tackles to score under the posts. The try was duly converted, the bonus point secured and Warlingham's, hitherto unbroken, try line had been well and truly breached. Despite the lead having changed five times Deal were clearly the better side on the day and deserved their celebrations.

Warlingham: Agate, Saffery, Wimble, Davis, Osborne, Kozminski, Doe, Abou-Zeid, J Delderfield, Scutt, Ray, Dodwell, J Wrightson, King(capt), Fair.
Substitutes: Nunn, Robson,McEvoy.