A failure to convert superior possession into points cost Old Walcountians dear as they drew 17-17 with London Exiles in Surrey One on Saturday.

Old Boys started on top with props Ben Anderson and Kemlo Longstaff outscrummaging their Exiles opposite numbers and hooker Matt Houghton was able to take three strikes against the head.

Alex Sutherland and Jack South provided the Old Boys with a good share of line-out possession and the backs were given plenty of ball through good recycling work in the loose.

But the backs were well shackled and Walcountians kicked away too much possession.

They did open the scoring in the 25th minute when Sam Naylor, playing at blind-side flanker, broke from the ruck and Gavin Welsh blasted his way through for a try that full-back Ollie Beales converted.

But, two minutes later, Exiles were level after they fell on a loose ball which squirted out of a ruck on the Old Boys tryline.

A penalty from Ollie Beales in the 29th minute restored Walcountians lead and, four minutes from the break, Walcountians extended their lead to ten points when Chris Walsh, playing at centre rather than his favoured wing position, shook off two tackles and put Ollie Beales clear to sprint for the line for a try which he converted himself.

The second half was frustrating for Walcountians as their hit and miss approach to the game continued. The Exiles pack was starting to win a fair share of the ball by getting to the breakdown more quickly than their Walcountians counterparts and the Old Boys did not help their cause by conceding a stream of penalties.

Exiles were firmly back in the game after just four minutes of the second half as they swiftly moved a tap penalty out to their threequarters for their left-winger to go over for a try in the left hand corner.

A towering conversion from their fly-half narrowed the gap to three points.

Walcountians had been let off the hook when Exiles failed with two penalty attempts but a third penalty in the 31st minutes brought the scores level.

The introduction of industrious flanker Scott Cook to the game helped to turn the closing minutes in Walcountians’ favour as they threw everything into a bid to win the game.

Cook’s tireless foraging for the ball in the loose helped end the visitors’ advantage in the loose, and the Old Boys would have surely won if passes had been better directed when the Exiles defence was split open.

Walcountians return to league action against Bec Old Boys on February 13 (2.30pm).