This was a game Warlingham had to win, that they could have won, and some might argue should have won.

But with a tight match delicately poised at 13-16 to the visitors going into the final 10 minutes and with Warlingham pushing hard for the score to give them the vital victory, a try by Reigatians’s flying wing, Richard O’Hanlon, put the result – and probably promotion this season – beyond the home side.

“Of course the lads are disappointed with the result, but we’re proud with our performance today,” Warlingham manager Tony Doe said.

“We sometimes forget that three years ago, this club was playing two divisions below this standard.

“We’ve got a bunch of young local lads together, who are growing up together on the rugby pitch, and against one of the tougher sides in the division, they showed that they have plenty of potential yet.”

Doe highlighted the performance of Warlingham’s No8, Matt Foulds, at 18 playing only his second match for the senior side, and whose try in the 67th minute had set up a thrilling climax to the game.

Caterham schoolboy Foulds – the county captain at under-17 level last season - demonstrated his ability in defence and attack throughout the match, and was a constant problem for the Reigatians defence.

The match had begun in a subdued atmosphere, with the referee, Crispin Davis, proving very strict on any transgressions at the breakdown. Following a contentious meeting between these sides in November, Surrey RFU had brought in Davis – a regular National League referee –to take firm control.

Reigatians had named James Podbury in their pack, just a day after his suspension had expired for a haymaker punch on a Warlingham player in the previous game. After having missed three matches, there was no repeat of the misbehaviour from Podbury or any other players, but the referee’s frequent whistle saw there was a high penalty count but little flowing rugby in the first half, which ended at 6-3 to Reigatians, their scrum half Phil Williams slotting two kicks to the one by Warlingham’s James Agate.

Joe Chivers’s accurate boot kept probing Reigatians’ defence and gaining plenty of territory for Warlingham. Darren Walker, making his first start for two months, came closest to crossing the Reigatians’ tryline in the first half, the big lock forward roaring with rage after his dive for the line was adjudged to have been held up.

The home side probably felt they had done well to contain Reigatians, especially their dangerous South African centre, Jonathan Schalkwyk, after lock forward Ky Oliveira was shown the yellow card by Mr Davis after 23 minutes for killing the ball.

Yet within five minutes of the re-start, Warlingham were chasing the game after another Williams penalty kick and a fluent Reigatian move from a scrum which saw Schalkwyk go over in the left-hand corner. Williams slotted the conversion.

At 16-3 down, Warlingham kept battling, and when Tyrone Long, the Reigatians No8, was sin-binned for repeated offences, the hosts took full advantage of the numerical advantage.

After Dave Stamp had managed to find a hole in the Reigatians defence, Tom Street, the Warlingham captain, thought he’d got five points back for the hosts until Mr Davis blew up for an earlier offence.

Five minutes later, though, Street did make it on to the scoresheet. A good kick from Alex Glover, restored to the side at fly-half, gave full-back Rory Child something to chase. Winger Jon Osbourne followed up well, and it was little surprise to see skipper Street on-hand to finish off the move and claim the try.

Now Warlingham’s pack, with James Scott’s fresh legs on at prop, were destroying Reigatians upfront. It was off the back of an attacking scrum in the 67th minute that youngster Foulds picked up the ball and went on to claim his try.

Then Reigatians got their decisive try, and although Mr Davis yellow carded a second Reigatians player five minutes from the end of the game, Warlingham were unable to capitalise.

With Old Reigatians having been docked two points for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season, the divisional title now looks to be between them and Old Elthamians – National League Blackheath's second team, who meet Warlingham in the final match of the season.

“All we can do now is work hard to go through the rest of the season and win our remaining games,” Doe said. “If we do that, we can keep our season alive, and if anyone else slips up, then who knows?”