Rosslyn Park lost to near neighbours Esher for the first time on Saturday.

Esher took the lead through a Jon Gregory penalty and produced some wonderful rugby to delight the large crowd.

They were rewarded again in the 21st minute with a penalty which Gregory converted.

Right on half time, Esher's Matt Morahan, in his own 22, called a mark which he took quickly.

He palmed off two tacklers and sent the ball out to Gregory, who released Spencer Bromley for a try. Gregory missed the conversion and Esher went in 11-0 up.

Esher increased their lead through a Gregory penalty, but then Park were awarded a penalty try, which was con-verted, when a ruck was brought down by Esher.

Esher were put under the cosh, but defended well and were later given a penalty, which Gregory converted.

Matt Dowse gave Park a glimmer of hope with a late penalty, but Esher's strong defence were enough to take the points.

London League Div 3 South West, played on October 27

OLD WIMBLEDONIANS 11, CHOBHAM 36

Old Wimbledonians played out a good first half but with only a try and two penalties to two penalties could not survive an onslaught from the visitors.

Assisted by a gentle breeze and the strong sun the OWs put in an attack up the right hand side which was stopped with the award of a penalty.

Chobham soon won penalties themselves and drew level. OWs responded immediately, winning a scrum and passing to the centre where Brian Boundy collected an inside pass and made a fine break before releasing Ben Curtis on the left for a try three metres from touch. Nangle's long conversion attempt hit the upright but he was later successful with a penalty from 12 metres after some superb scrummaging. Chobham slotted another penalty but OWs should have capitalised more in this half, missing out on a further 10 points.

Chobham's bigger forwards started to gain more ball in the second half and their standoff used his kicking strength to advantage. Two successful penalties took them into a one-point lead for 10 minutes but the mounting pressure then gave them a converted try.

A reversed penalty award allowed Chobham to convert from 30 metres but in the last 10 minutes OWs picked their game up again. Chobham managed to run in two strong tries in the closing minutes.

The Old Rutlishians badly needed a win to keep in contention for the top spots of Surrey I. Old Paulines were the visitors to Poplar Road, themselves looking to excel in the league.

The Ruts started the match well and came bursting out of the blocks with winger Grahame Blenman scoring twice in the corner from 30 metres and then 40 metres in the first five minutes and then fly half Alistair Willey chipping over the flat Paulines defence to gather and score easily. This was then converted for the Ruts to have scored 17 points in the first 15 minutes.

The Ruts defence stood firm until the 35th minute of the first half when the inside centre wriggled over to make the half time score 17-5.

Paulines started the second half as they finished the first, again mounting pressure using their pack and centres to gain territory up the middle of the pitch.

Paulines were then awarded a penalty for an offside decision which was duly scored to make the score 17-8. The Ruts superior fitness then told as they started mounting attacks of their own with winger Darren Ramen striking twice with two well taken tries in the corner for Ruts to emerge 27-8 winners and to climb to fourth in the table.

MERTON 47

OLD WALCOUNTIANS 5

Merton made light work of Old Walcountians last Saturday, recording their biggest League victory for almost three years.

The Morden Rec outfit was pleased to see the return of Matt Gore and Alex Smith to the back division, along with the introduction of James Hilston on the wing and a re-vamped midfield pairing of Keiron Frankum and Chris Gie.

But they were still without skipper Ben Burford, recovering from a knee injury, his place at lock this week going to Jamie Wallace. Merton's outstanding performers were lock John Arthey and feisty centre Gie.

Merton took command right from the whistle, the forwards winning plenty of possession and driving the ball on into Walcountians territory. It was from one such drive that they opened their account, Rudi Spies breaking off to race through a big gap for the first try. Gore slotted the conversion with ease. With the forwards keeping the visitors on the back foot, Gore himself was next to benefit, sniping round the fringes and diving over next to the sticks. Merton's domination continued and it was not long before they added their third try. On the stroke of half-time, a lapse in defence allowed Walcountians to break their duck, a try in the left corner giving them hope for the second-half.

After the break it was the turn of the Merton backs to show their paces. Smith, leading the side in the absence of Burford, jinked through to extend the hosts' lead, before Hilston showed his exceptional pace to sprint to the line for a score.

Smith was on hand to bag his second, and then Hilston's replacement, Leigh Nichols, powered his way over for the final try. Gore completed a successful day's kicking for him by striking his sixth conversion.

November 6, 2001 15:30