A LATE knock-on was to prove crucial as Effingham & Leatherhead's winning run was halted by Old Reigatians on Saturday.
The Eagles lost by just five points, a deficit which could very well have been eaten up in the final moments of the match as a rolling maul edged towards the line, only for the ball to be spilt forwards and the referee to blow the whistle to end the contest.
The visitors started well with Brian Collins kicking long into the Reigatians half for territory and forcing the hosts into a mistake as they were penalised for going in at the side of a maul. Collins missed with the kick, but soon after they were given another chance, this time Stuart Fee kicking it between the posts for 3-0.
A third penalty followed as Old Reigatians drifted offside, with Fee again on target.
Reigatians had been on the back foot but came into the match as a series of pick and drives from the forwards took play upfield.
The Eagles conceded a penalty for offside, Reigatians kicking to the corner for a lineout and they showed good control of the resulting maul, driving over for the first try, duly converted for a single point lead.
The hosts were now very much in the ascendancy and despite valiant defence from the Eagles, with Dom Young and Sam Prior prominent, a second try followed shortly after as the Old Reigatians were awarded a penalty try as an Eagles forward was pinged for handling in a five-metre scrum.
Momentum swung back as the Eagles turned over the restart and an astute cross kick from Collins was taken by the fast arriving Tony Penny, who was tackled just short of the line but who had the presence of mind to offload in the tackle to Ed Ralph, following up, who crashed over for the Eagles' first try, and a 14-11 deficit.
However, the Eagles were rocked back by two further scores just before half-time.
An attack by the Old Reigatians developed an overlap for try number three and a strong drive from the forwards produced a fourth try, though neither were converted and they led 24-11 at half-time.
The Eagles lifted their game at the start of the second period, attacking from the off, with Richard Smith and Jason Evans making ground with some incisive breaks.
As the Eagles ramped up the pressure with a series of five metre lineouts, an Old Reigatians forward was sin binned after a series of penalties for offside.
Effingham attacked strongly through Tom Ellinson and Charlie Compson, and the score duly came with Charlie Compson getting the final touch, duly converted by Fee for 24-18.
The match swung again as the home side accrued a penalty, slotted for 27-18.
Back came the Eagles for a further close range try, this time from Mark Allen, with Fee again adding the extras to bring Effingham within two points.
Reigatians added another penalty to push the lead out to five points and had it not been for a knock-on the game may well have ended in a tie, or even with victory for the Eagles.
Effingham: T Ellinson, Quinn, Allen, Prior, Thornton, Young, Tubasei, Ellis, Losardo, Collins, R Smith, Evans, E Ralph, Penny, Fee, Compson, Ellis, Joyce.
