Following the postponement of last week’s game, this Saturday Old Caterhamians were looking forward to their home clash with Purley John Fisher, their local rivals from just up the road.

Right from kick-off the home side knew that it was going to be a tough afternoon at the office.

Fisher piled on the pressure and it soon became evident that their heavy pack was capable of dominating the game. This physicality lead to a first try as the visitors bundled the ball over the line to take a 5-0 lead.

Following a penalty five minutes later, Cats benefitted from the subsequent line-out and after a couple of phases of play they drew level with a trademark try under the posts from scrum half Zach Uddoh.

Tom Clayton secured the conversion to give Cats a 7-5 lead, which they retained up to the half-time whistle.

The second half started in a similar vain as the first with the same degree of intensity but Fisher continued to dominate the scrums and benefit from some poor line-out play by Cats.

Despite the pressure Cats managed to go further ahead as Tom Clayton slotted home a mid-range penalty to make it 10-5.

As Fisher set up a driving maul into the 22, poor defending by Cats lead to an opposition try which was successfully converted. Fisher were now 10-12 ahead.

The visitors then moved further head with a penalty to make it 10-15 but Tom Clayton placed another mid-range kick between the posts to secure three points for Cats.

The game was now hanging on a knife-edge at 13-15 but another penalty converted by the Fisher kicker was to settle the contest.

The final minutes epitomised the game - tense and physical but Fisher held firm despite two of their players in the sin bin. They were determined to take the points and a well-earned victory.

Full time score: Old Caterhamians 13-18 Purley John Fisher

Old Cats are now joint third in the League with Fisher but have a game in hand. Hopefully they can put this first loss of the season behind them and get back to winning ways when they travel to Old Blues next Saturday.