Welwyn edged out a feisty Chiswick side with a try from the last play of the match to snatch a 26-24 victory in Counties 1 – Herts/Middlesex on Saturday.

Cheered on by a good-sized crowd, Welwyn just did enough to win, but will be keen to cut down on unforced errors next time out.

The visitors were first onto the scoreboard after ten minutes when Welwyn spilled a ball in midfield and Chiswick were able to run in unopposed to score by the posts. The conversion put the visitors 7-0 ahead.

Welwyn dominated that next phase of the match and were rewarded when Brendon Marume broke through the defence and ran 60 metres to score under the posts. Jake Riley added the extras and the teams were level again.

There was no further score until five minutes before half-time when the powerful AB Makoni ran 40 metres and had just enough power to crash through two tackles to touch down close to the posts. Riley again converted.

Chiswick rallied well and, on the stroke of half-time, they scored close to the posts after a period of sustained pressure. Crucially, the conversion was missed and the sides changed round at the interval with Welwyn hanging onto a slender 14-12 lead.

The first half hour of the second half was error strewn and scoreless. Eventually, Welwyn’s pressure told as Riley came close and the ball was quickly recycled to Anton Denton who forced his way through heavy traffic to score. Riley converted in off the upright and Welwyn were ahead 21-12, although they suffered a big blow when talismanic skipper Josh Milton limped off the field with a hamstring injury.

Welwyn may have felt that the game was won at this stage but Chiswick had other ideas.

After 32 minutes, the visitors moved the ball right and scored out wide. The conversion was initially signalled as having missed, but after consulting the touch judge the referee changed his decision and allowed the extra two points. Welwyn were now only 20-19 ahead.

Worse was to come for the hosts five minutes later when Chiswick scored again close to the posts with about four minutes left on the clock. Crucially the conversion was missed, but the visitors had a 24-21 lead with very little time left to play.

To Welwyn’s credit, they stuck to their task and gradually worked their way back up field and eventually won a kickable penalty. This would have tied the scores, but Welwyn elected to kick for the corner.

The lineout was duly won and, as the maul crept forwards towards the line, Denton broke away to score his second try of the match and secure a nail-biting win for the home team. The conversion was missed but it was the last kick of the game as Welwyn secured the full five points with a try bonus-point victory.