CHARLIE Waite missed a difficult last-minute conversation as Andover Rugby Club drew 19-19 in their relegation ‘six-pointer’ with Weybridge Vandals.

The young full back was unfortunate to miss the attempt after the All Blacks scored a last-minute try through Kieran Jenvey to level the crucial London South West Division Two relegation battle.

However as Andover went into the tie two points clear of the Vandals, it can be perhaps looked at as a positive for the All Blacks, who are currently out of the relegation zone with two games to go.

The game began well for Andover, who welcomed a large and noisy crowd to Foxcotte Park.

After just five minutes Jack Stott and Stefan Long combined well to threaten and as Vandals transgressed to stop them, Waite slotted the resulting penalty.

Andover had beaten Vandals comfortably in the away fixture, but the West Londoners soon showed they were not going to lie down in this one, scoring a neat try from a catch and drive, to take the lead.

Then came a moment that should have changed the game.

The Vandals outside centre committed a robust challenge on Waite, but only saw yellow instead of red, while the full back dusted himself down and kicked the penalty.

Waite added a further kick before half time to give Andover a 9-5 lead at the break.

Nic Reed got the All Blacks off to a great start after the break, scoring a try to finish off a great move from Alex Kane.

Action from Andover RFC’s 19-19 draw with Weybridge Vandals in the London Two South West Division Vandals struck back almost immediately and only Ollie Lindridge’s intervention stopped them scoring, earning him a yellow card.

Andover defended brilliantly until a poor decision to run out of defence instead of booting clear led to a Vandals score, closing the gap to two points.

Vandals continued and pushed hard to earn what appeared to be a game winning try late on.

Andover refused to give in however and created chance after chance as the game drew to a close.

With a minute left, and after numerous scrums, forward drives and dropped pass, Jenvey finally breached the Vandal’s defence to score a vital try.

Coach Andy Waite said: “In the end the result is better for us than it is them. We are still two points clear, so it is very much in our hands at the moment.

“The challenge is simple, we must match whatever Vandals do in our last games and we will stay up.”