Esher overcame a sluggish first half to defeat Stourbridge 32-22 and maintain their unbeaten run in National League Two on Saturday.

With no signs of the famous Parakeets over the past two weeks, rumours were rife that just as the Tower of London would crumble if the Ravens left, the same fate would become Esher if the Parakeets left.

The opening periods of the game, and indeed the first half, seemed to be proving the story might be true.

Stourbridge playing with the wind, and having the useful boot of Ali Bressington began to peg Esher back.

On 13 minutes a long kick by Bressington seemed to be going into touch, it bounced right and into the Esher in goal area, Esher Scrum Half Graham Barr needed to ground the ball for the play to end.

It did seem that he obliged, but as the ball bounced loose, Stourbridge's scrum half pounced on the ball, grounded it himself and claimed a try.

Try awarded by the team of officials. Bressington converting gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Esher's pack was once again the dominant force in the game, and time and time again put the Stourbridge pack under immense pressure at the scrums and in the rucks and mauls.

On 19 minutes a driving maul led again by skipper Duncan Cormack head for the line, with Stourbridge trying everything legal and illegal to stop it, the Esher power house went on and on until over the line and Cormack rose with the ball and another try to add to his seasons tally.

Esher now seemed more settled, in the 23rd minute, the visitors lost centre Marcus Cook to the sin bin for attempting to prevent another driving maul when it looked from all view points Esher would get another score.

With the illegal intervention, Esher took the penalty option to kick at goal, Neill Hallett added the three points to put Esher in front 8-7.

Still the Esher pack dominated, but the back line was not firing on all cylinders, this allowed the Stourbridge side to aim their focus at our back line defence.

On 31 and 36 minutes Esher succumbed to two tries from Greg Summers, and both from defence errors by the back line, neither were converted, but it did put the visitors in front by 17-8.

On the stroke of half-time, Hallett added another penalty to bring the gap back to within a converted score.

The Esher side were told at half time by Head Man Mike Schmid that the game was still firmly in their control, and to now go and show what they are made off.

From the opening kick of the half, Esher showed their intent and, with only a minute gone, Mike Blakeburn scored his second try in two weeks as he powered his way over the line, Hallett converted and Esher were where they should have been all along, in front.

On 51 minutes Esher were on the score sheet again.

Wing Richard Briggs skipped and danced his way to the try line and scored.

The down side was that he suffered an ankle injury in the process. Hallett again added the extra two points and Esher now led 25-17.

Esher now went in search of the valuable bonus point. This came in the 64th minute.

Fullback Hallett joined the attacking back line, which were now performing at a much higher level.

Hallett entered the line at pace and went over to score under the posts. With his own conversion, Esher led 32-17.

With the game now pretty safe, Esher dropped their guard and with the seconds ticking down allowed Stourbridge to slip in and score their fourth try of the game, and giving them a bonus point.

Esher, however, came away from the game with another full five points which gave the Friends of Esher' who had enjoyed a splendid lunch and plenty of liquid refreshment much to cheer about.

This Saturday (3pm) Esher take on Nuneaton. The following week they travel to second place Launceston in what will be a very real test of their current position.

Esher: 15 N Hallett - 14 M Moore - 13 B Armitage - 12 M Mantle - 11 R Biggs - 10 M Leek - 9 G Barr; 1 D Cormack - 2 T Doran - 3 J Smith - 4 M Butterworth - 5 P Barker - 6 M Blakeburn - -7 L Vondrasek - 8 L Starling Replacements: 56 S Elkinson for T Doran: 63 A Alexander for J Smith: 68 A Mockford for L Starling: 52 M Marsh for R Briggs: Esher Scorers: Tries: D Cormack: M Blakeburn: R Briggs: N Hallett: Cons N Hallett 3, Pens N Hallett 2