Sutton & Epsom Rugby Club had to battle hard to overcome old rivals Thanet Wanderers 15-10 at Broadstairs on Saturday and chalk up their fifth straight win of the season, writes John Ashton.

Over the nine years in which the two sides have been playing each other, this was only the fifth triumph for Sutton over the Kent side in 17 meetings and the second win ever at Thanet.

To a great extent Sutton had their backs to thank for the win. Full-back Keith Middleton, centres Jake Webber and Steve Warnham and wingers Will Newman and Lyndon Burrell made some gigantic breaks. Only a couple of last ditch tackles and some idiosyncratic refereeing decisions prevented them scoring three or four more tries.

Thanet showed huge composure in defence and a wonderful ability to off load the ball under pressure, however. Their star player, aging winger Yan N'Dong, may have lost half a yard of pace, but he still caused Sutton's defence endless problems.

Sutton came under pressure after going ahead with a penalty by fly-half Sam Frost. But a great break by Middleton led to Lydon Burrell taking a poor pass off his boot straps and grabbing a try to make it 8-0 at half-time.

Burrell went over again early in the second-half, only for the referee, some way back up the field, to disallow the try for a knock on.

After this Sutton went off the boil as Thanet stormed back, with Tom Longdon scoring by the posts. Neil Roby converted and then kicked a penalty to put Thanet 10-8 ahead.

But Sutton, showing that new self belief which has been evident over the last few weeks, soon regained the lead. A scything run by Burrell and great work by Webber, who made it to the line only to be stopped, resulted in a try for Newman. Frost converted from out near the touch line.

This Saturday Sutton will host the President of the English RFU at Rugby Lane, Cheam, for lunch prior to their sixth league match of the season at home to Lewes (3pm).