Esher captain Ian Kench is hoping the fact the club’s playing staff will not be overhauled in the summer can see them sustain a National Division One promotion push next term.

The 27-year-old saw his side beat neighbours Richmond 31-17 at Molesey Road on Saturday to bring the curtain down on a disappointing campaign that saw them finish sixth.

Esher turned the year well placed to challenge league winners Doncaster Knights but a miserable 2014 saw promotion hopes evaporate.

Kench is the third most senior player at the club and, while many teams face the prospect of rebuilding in the off-season, Esher are only losing a handful of players from their young squad.

And the skipper believes, with another season under their belts, his team will be a more dangerous prospect next year.

“It’s definitely pleasing to earn a victory, but the nature of the win is something that has been a theme all year round of getting out to a good lead and then not being able to finish the game off,” said Kench.

“By all accounts, we are keeping all of our players and it’s another season under their belts for them and another season of learning how to close out games.

“We have a young squad with an average age of around 23 so none of these players are going to be over the hill any time soon.

“We’ve got more young lads pushing for a place so we are a team that has a good base and we will continue to build.

“We’ve got a few boys leaving, but we need to find replacements and look forward to next year.”

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In action: Ian Kench in the Esher shirt

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