A single point from their game with Old Amplefordians (or Old Mid Whitgiftians to fail in getting a bonus point win) would see Old Whitgiftians become Surrey 1 Champions and secure promotion into the London SW 3.

Whits knew going to league stragglers Amplefordians was not going to be a walk over, with every point for host essential to avoid demotion. The pitch was dry and the day was warm, something that has been quite rare in the second half of the season.

Whits started slowly. Almost too aware of the need for just the one point, and with some early match nerves, mistakes crept in straight from the Kickoff. A simple knock on led to an attacking scrum to OAs. Their large number eight picked from the scrum, drawing in the Whits back row before giving a quick pass to the OA stand-off who sliced through a gaping hole in the defence and raced to the corner for a try in the first minute of the game. 5-0.

From the restart Whits still hadn’t woken up and found themselves under pressure again. OAs showed early on they were going to use the “pick and go” and targeted the breakdown area. This created quick ball for the hosts and their mobile hooker crashed over near the uprights for seven points and a large early lead. 12-0.

Whits needed to wake up or they were looking at a nervy final game against local rivals Chipstead the following week to pull off the league victory. From the restart, Whits started to play with structure and got themselves back in the contest. Petschi, in again as captain for the AWOL Tom Hipsey, was leading from the front with carry after carry as Clark at scrumhalf started to find the big men to break the defence of OAs (who looked a different team compared to recent encounters). Eventually, the ball was fed to the backs and, with Miles Daly returning at inside centre, linked up with fullback Tim Catling to score in the corner. 12-5.

Whits had found a bit of confidence and knowing tries were the most important commodity of the day decided to run the ball from anywhere. From a solid scrum, Clark passed to flyhalf Andrew Marshall who threw a whippy miss pass to Moyise at outside centre. Quick ball to Nick “Sushi” Byrne on the wing, allowed Byrne to go full-on Ninja mode as he evaded multiple tackles and, from his own half ran in under the posts to give Marshall an easy shot at the extra points 12-12.

Whits started to look like the best team in the league with a fast classy brand of rugby that left the neutral in awe. The phases started to build up as the Hulk figure of Alex Emeni smashed against defenders taking two to three in his wake. As Whits started to make ground Marshall dabbed the ball through with a clever grubber which almost found Gunni on the wing. The following lineout lead to a knock-on by OAs and gave Whits the attacking scrum. Jonathan Mount at eight picked from the base making vital yards and sweetly timing a pass to Clark. Clark, with a vast array of options, picked Daly who's line carved through the OA defence giving seven more points to the Jazzers. 12-19.
Nineteen unanswered points and the Whits looked to be into cruise mode, but from the restart, another mistake and OAs took full advantage and scored quickly, bringing the game to 19-19 at the halftime break.

The whistle blew and Whits got the game underway, Infernos regular Graham Johnson and Petschi chased the kickoff to create panic in the OAs defence. Barney Hoskins, on at prop, gathered the wayward pill. Clark spotting room down the blind passed to blindside flanker Alex Smith who broke the first tackle with his trademark spin and go. One-on-one with the OA’s fullback, he gave to Byrne to get his brace and the Whits 4th try. Promotion secured and a moment of history for the club. 24-19.

Rugby is a game played in the mind as much as it's played on the field, and the following 30 minutes were proof of that. Knowing the job was done, Whits capitulated and looked unrecognisable from the season. OAs played with much more want and aggression in the second half and quickly moved to a large lead. With penalty machine scrumhalf Matthew Clark in the bin for illegal use of the boot, the fourteen men were unable to stop the flow of tries to follow, making sure OAs would avoid relegation this week.

The Whits finished the game with the last try as Moyise and Marshall lined nicely to find Ed on the wing. Ed put in a chip for Mount to chase, and as the number eight and the OA fullback collided, left Moyise to dot down the simplest of finishes.

46-29 was the final score but the celebrations started and went long into the night regardless. Whits host local rivals Chipstead for the final game of the season. 3 pm KO at Manor Road.