EFFINGHAM & Leatherhead scored a narrow one-point win at KCS on Saturday to avenge an early-season defeat.
The Eagles travelled to Arthur Road looking to put right their 27-19 home defeat back in the reverse fixture back in September.
And on an overcast January afternoon with slippery conditions underfoot, the Eagles front row had the early nudge, with Olie Rees at No 8 making a break from the base of the scrum.
After two rapid recycles, and some yardage gained by Jason Foster with a sharp break, Brian Collins put his size nines through the proverbial laces and propelled the ball a substantial distance, lineout KCS.
KCS made ground from the lineout, taking play up to the Eagles 22, with a forward final pass.
The Eagles moved the ball quickly back to midway between the KCS ten metre and 22 and earned a penalty for hands in the ruck, though Collins was just wide at the posts.
A change of angle of attack wrong-footed the covering Eagles defenders and the KCS centre crossed for the opening score, though the conversion was unsuccessful, 5-0.
The Eagles then raised their game, Olie Rees making a trademark powerful run, earning a penalty for offside at the resulting ruck, with Stuart Fee successful with the kick, to make it 5-3.
The restart saw the Eagles make 20 yards or so before conceding a penalty for going to ground.
KCS kicked for the 22, although the Eagles held the initial drive following the lineout and a secondary drive took play up to the Eagles five-metre line.
A breaking KCS flanker dived for the line and was driven over by his close support.
The conversion was wide, 10-3.
The sides then exchanged three pointers, taking the score to 13-6 at half-time.
Collins restarted for the Eagles with a hanging kick, recovered by Ed Thornton, with the Eagles taking play into the home 22, with both John Stoker and Dominic Young prominent.
The referee then penalised KCS for not rolling away, and Fee was again successful with the kick to reduce the deficit to four points at 13-9.
A further three points were soon added by Fee as KCS drifted offside at a ruck, reducing the gap to just one point at 13-12.
KCS stubbornly defended their lead and added a further penalty for 16-12, with it appearing that the Eagles enterprise might be unrewarded.
However, with ten minutes to go, Collins and Nick Losardo combined with an astute kick through to put Penny clear, who just beat the covering KCS defenders to the ball for a five-pointer to take the win 17-16.
Eagles: Allen, Quinn, Ellinson, Stocker, Thornton, Young, Rees, Cave, Losardo, Collins, Ralph, Foster, Squire, Penny, Fee. Substitutes: Diprose, Evans, Prior.
