30 March 2005
A late penalty from Christian Larsmon secured a 15-13 win for Surrey’s Under-16s on their historic first outing against international opposition at Guildford.

The Cranleigh School wing struck five minutes from time to complete a superb comeback against Canada after captain Greg Bateman had scored two second half tries for the hosts.

Surrey had trailed 13-0 against a large side with fly half Nate Hiriyama scoring the opening try and coverting, with full back Matt Evans adding two penalties for the tourists.

But Surrey’s pack took control of the game in the second half to force Camberley hooker Bateman over for two tries and pull them back to within a point.

Then they applied the pressure for Larsmon to drill over a penalty from wide on the right from 25 metres out.

“It was a decent kick and after that it was very frantic,” said coach Aidan Turns.

“It was a really tough game. Defensively they were very strong but we just edged it up front.”

The Surrey squad have enjoyed what Turns described as “a phenomenal last two years” losing just two of 27 games at A and B team level.

They hung on against Canada despite being without seven players on duty with England’s Under-16 side.

The game was part of Canada’s warm-up preparation for the international tournament at Millfield School in Somerset that kicks off on April 1 when they face England, France and Wales.

Surrey: James Halton (Reigate GS & Warlingham), Ben Wimble (Warlingham County & Old Caterhamians), John Ormrod (City of London Freeman’s & Sutton and Epsom), Myles Waud (Caterham & Warlingham), Christian Larsmon (Cranleigh & Guildford), Matt Keville (Latymer Upper & Richmond), Andrew Devon (RGS Guildford & Esher); Charlie Connor (Howard of Effingham & London Irish), Greg Bateman (Tomlinscote CS & Camberley), Daniel Frazer (Collingwood College & Chobham), Rob Sexton (KCS Wimbledon & KCS Old Boys), Tom Price (Reed’s & Guildford), Ben O’Neill (Cranleigh & Guildford), Justin Hast (Epsom College & Sutton and Epsom), Mike MacFarlane (RGS Guildford & Esher).

Replacements (all used): Oliver Dujardin (St Bede’s & Old Reigatian), Alex Blundell-Jones (Cranleigh & Guildford), Munro Robertson (RGS Guildford & Effingham), Liam Evans (Fullbrook & Esher), James Agate (St Bede’s & Warlingham),Richard Irving (Cranleigh & Guildford), Gregory Strong (Collingwood College & Camberley), Sean Scottock (RGS Guildford & Effingham).