Warlingham 34 Deal & Betteshanger 3

On a chilly afternoon, injury-struck Warlingham eventually ran in four tries at Hamsey Road, but early on it was the visitors who had most of the possession and territory and it took strong tackling from front rovers Alex Nunn and Darren Walker to keep them out.

Two strong breaks from flanker Mark Macaskill eventually took Warlingham deep into the Deal half. But although Joe Chivers broke the deadlock with a well-struck peenalty, Deal came straight back with a deserved penalty of their own to level the score.

Chivers then broke the gain line, but his pass to James Agate went astray and the move came to nothing.

After the break, however, Warlingham turned constant pressure into points.

First, replacement centre Charlie Edwards fed speedy winger James Griffiths, who sprinted through the deal defence and put full-back Agate in for a try. Chivers converted and soon added a penalty.

Then, Warlingham’s pack drove down the right and Aaron Beesley went over for the try, Chivers again adding the extras.

Giant lock John Wright featured in Warlignham’s next attack, but was stopped by stout defending. A resulting scrum ended with number eight Ben Wiseman breaking from the base and barrelling over for a try, converted by Chivers.

The final try came after Richard Melford made good yards through the centre before a deft pass for Griffiths to score a well-taken try. Chivers again converted.

Playing chairman Anthony Barrington-Doe said: “Although we were slow to start, the lads stuck to the game plan well and we are pleased with the win.”

Warlingham donated proceeds of a touchline collection and their programme receipts from the game to the Cockermouth Flood Disaster.

Warlingham visit Sevenoaks in the league next Saturday.

Warlingham: Agate, Griffiths, Chivers, O Doe, Stamp, Walsh, Perkins, Nunn, D Street, Walker, Melford, Wright, Wiseman, Robson, Macaskill. Subs: Williams, Edwards, Beesley.