Warlingham 16
Cobham 23

Warlingham came within five minutes of landing a shock win over table-topping Cobham at Hamsey Green on Saturday.

Tries by wingers Ben Wiseman in the 30th minute and Rory Child midway through the second half had provided the hosts with the foundation of points to give them a 16-13 advantage with the finish within sight.

But when a scuffle broke out around the fringes of a breakdown 70 minutes into the game, referee Nick Hickman opted to yellow card Warlingham's number eight, Neil Robson, without punishing any of the Cobham players involved in the punching.

Two further penalties were then awarded against the outnumbered home side within their own 22, and the Cobham pack then used its superior numbers to get a pushover try.

Mr Hickman added insult to injury already felt by Warlingham with the final move of the match, when he awarded Cobham a further try even though their player clearly dropped the ball forward, rather than grounding it, in his side's next attacking move.