OLD Freemen's put Teddington's 100 per cent Surrey One record under severe threat on Saturday.

The visitors took an early lead, taking the game to their hosts, and also led at the half-time interval, before being sent to defeat by the league leaders.

Freemen's stormed out of the traps at the whistle, pinning Teddington in their own half and building a 10-0 lead after only 10 minutes, with tries by No 8 Simon Daniels and wing Sam Rowan.

The home side had hardly touched the ball and looked decidedly shaken. Passes went astray and tackles rained in as a pumped up Old Boys side refused to let them settle.

However, it looked like Freemen's fears of having peaked too early might come true. Teddington regrouped with two penalties, and then unleashed their No 8, who crashed over for the first of his four tries to take the lead.

The Old Boys were not intimidated and Chas March led by fine example. Tim Beeson, a late step-up from the second team, impressed with Ben Telford, Richard Butterfield and Gary Mills. Scrum half Dom Smith bonded well with fly half Jonny Sowton, passing and sniping smartly behind his pack who, although sometimes struggling in the tight, were the masters of the loose. Jon Wilson, Alex Jones and Jeff Haywood worked hard to ensure that Teddington's backs were generally not able to exploit the wide pitch.

Just before half-time, Freemen's bounced back with two Sowton penalties to take a 16-13 lead into the break. Missed kicks would have made that lead feel more secure.

The start of the second half proved tough for Freemen's. Teddington's game plan around their No 8 immediately bore fruit as he crashed over for his second try. Tom Fair was then binned, during which a further try stretched the lead to 25-16.

As the game became more fractious into the last quarter, Fair returned but Teddington then lost their hooker to the bin. Daniels notched his second try to keep Freemen's in touch before he was binned for a hand-off, but a further home penalty and a fourth try in the closing minutes saw the hosts safely to victory by a slightly flattering 35-21.

The return match this Saturday at Ashtead Park promises to be another rousing clash.

Freemen's second team lost 19-10 at home to Battersea Ironsides.

Freemen's: J Haywood, Anderson, Jones, Wilson, Rowan, Sowton, Smith, Charalambous, Telford, Mills, Fair, Beeson, Butterfield (Crouch), March, Daniels.