As the calendar brought on the Saturday when British Summer Time ends, Old Whits 2nd XV travelled to Raynes Park to face league rivals Old Emanuels RFC. An unusually warm afternoon for the last Saturday of October, with bright sunshine and only isolated wisps of white cloud in an otherwise blue sky. This glorious weather saw OW 2nd XV gain their fourth consecutive victory.

From a good kickoff, OW started pinned down on their own 10 metre line, until a penatly in their favour was kicked to touch. Following the lineout – play resumed back and forth in the middle of field, with a couple of strong scrums and some very physical rucks. The first clear breakaway was made by OEs, with strong running and silky hands from the OEs full back and centre – but OEs were eventually marshalled into touch by resolute Whits defence.

Following the lineout, OW winger Lewis Hawken (#11) made a great run down the right flank, which led to Whits penalty some 30 yards out. Posts elected. But Conor (#10) steered his kick just wide to the left of the uprights.

The OE restart was caught by Conor, who gave the ball to Chairman Moyies (#1) who made significant yardage, before popping it off to Lewis. This was followed by recycled ball through several phases before Dan Horne (#7) was put into touch by OEs defence.

Approaching the 15 minute mark, OEs had a good turnover which gave them an opportunity to advance down their left wing. From a later OW scrum, Conor had a great kick for touch, which put the OEs back on their 22.

During a short water break, it became apparent a few Whits had taken to the barbers to request reverse 'Bobby-esque' go faster haircut i.e. the mop-on-top and nothing on the sides, cheifly modelled by Chairman Moyies and Chris Shiels (#5).

At the 15 minute mark, a marvellous segment of play by OW. From the line out, Dougal (#6) leapt up to take the ball, and from the resulting maul Moyiesie took the ball on, then picked up by Nev (#15). After several phases, the attack was terminated by an OE interception, who scampered down their left wing but was ultimately stopped by a strong OW scramble defence.

The first of the three OW tries came at around 20 minutes, starting from an OW scrum, taken on by Nev who passed to Lewis who made great ground. The ball moved from right wing to left wing, and taken over the line by Conor at #10. Conversion missed, the score 0 - 5.

The lead was not held long. Immediately after restart, a series of surging runs and quick recycles saw OEs charge over the line under the posts. 7-5.

At 30 minutes, after a good move by OEs down their right flank they had a scrum, but lost out to an OW penalty, marvellously cleared by the reliable Conor who took OW up to the half-way line.

From there until half-time, there was a lot of activity from OW, with line-outs won by Dougal and Moysie setting a good example with yardage gained. Penalties were taken by Conor keeping OEs pinned down in their own 22.

Just before half-time, after a fumbled scrum by OEs, OW spun the ball through their backs for a beautifully well worked team try: 7 - 10. Conor was unable to obtain the conversion. Yet more was to follow, moving the half-time score on by another 7 points, when Dan Horne (#7), was on the end of a marvellous break by Dougal, and achieved another 5 points. Another two points were added when Conor successfully got the conversion, giving us a half-time score of 7 - 17.

The second half was kicked off by Whits, using a cheeky short kicky by Conor, chased enthusiastically by Moysie. However, OEs scrambled and from the ruck nudged the ball into touch to relieve the pressure.

The next 20 minutes, saw no advantage to either side. Their respective excellent plays cancelled each other out. The spectators were treated to a series of scrums, line outs, and spinning the ball down the backs in an attempt to break through – but no-one did.

Within this fallow period, Whits took advantage to change the team with four substitutes.

Approaching 70 minutes, OEs lost the ball, which was picked up cleverly by Conor, who made a subtle one-handed pass to Lewis, who quickly zoomed away to cross the try line, making the score 7 – 22.

A change of kicker to Dan Horne, gave Whits two more points, giving a score of 7 – 24.

The last 10 minutes saw both sides making changes with their substitutes. OEs had an excellent phase of play looking dangerous, but incurred a penalty for crossing. The subsequent OW scrum gave the opportunity for a long-range kick to relieve the pressure.

At about 72 minutes, a high kick from OEs was caught by Lewis, after a great run, Whits quickly recycled. The ball was fizzed to Moyesie to the right of the ruck on the blindside, who gave a beautifully delayed pass to feed an excellent support line from Rob Sandford who went charging over the whitewash. 7-29. A successful conversion led to a final score of 7 – 31.

While the score did not do justice to OEs, who had plenty of possession and mounted lots of threats, it was another bonus point win on the road for the league-topping undefeated Wanderers.