Merton turned around Saturday's match in the last 10 minutes to run out 24-19 winners at Streatham Croydon on Saturday, writes Jack Canniff.

The visitors started brightly and got the first try after prop Alan Power charged a clearance kick 10m out.

The bouncing ball was grasped by lock Kerry James, who showed tremendous sleigh of hand to whip it back inside before he was bundled into touch, and Chuck Sanger ploughed over for the try.

Then great inter-play finished with Darren Glossop touching down next to the post and Mike Garnett adding the conversion.

Merton continued to press, but could not add to their tally, Garnett being slightly off target with a second penalty chance, and Dan Somerset being held up over the line.

But they were given a wake-up call when Streatham-Croydon's wing streaked over the whitewash from their first attack of any note.

It was a subdued Merton squad that gathered at the break, knowing that they should have been about twenty points in front at the halfway stage, given their dominance in all aspects, particularly the lineout where James reigned supreme.

Their cause was further shaken when Garnett was sent for a ten minute breather after being prominent in the first major assault of the half, after the wingman was penalised at the resulting ruck.

Streatham-Croydon took full advantage of their extra man, launching an attack up the visitors' left wing channel and creating an overlap for their hooker to dive over under the sticks, with the conversion edging them in front by two points.

As the game drifted into the last ten minutes, it looked like Merton would, once again, throw away a victory that should have been in the bag.

They brought on Jimmy McLoughlin to the back-row and Lowin to centre and, with a final throw of the dice, Coach Dave Burford sent on Pete Crawford at hooker, brother Ed moving to prop. In a frantic finale, the visitors threw everything into attack, finally achieving success when the threequarters shipped the ball left for the miscreant Garnett to take the ball at pace and outstrip the cover defence for a fantastic score. Merton were not content to rest on their laurels, James taking the ball from the kick-off and setting the ball up for Swanepoel to launch another attack.

The forwards took it on, great inter-play taking them into the home 22, with Glossop and Tim Rossiter appearing a number of times in the move, before the ball was popped up to Ed Crawford, who slid triumphantly between the posts, Garnett adding the two points.

The visitors were not so adept at clearing their lines from the resulting kick-off, Streatham-Croydon making a charge up the left and gaining a consolation score with the last move of the match.

This was a tremendous result from Merton, still having to cope with a crippling injury list. This Saturday they travel to play Wandsworthians at New Malden, as they continue the defence of their Surrey Bowl title.

Coach Burford delays naming his squad until after training on Wednesday.