Mike Schmid believes Esher are starting to show the character that can lift them into the Championship next season.

The National One pacesetters notched up a 10th victory in 11 outings with a nailbiting 10-6 triumph at Launceston last weekend.

Wing Richard Briggs got the vital try, from a planned move following a scrum near the Launceston line, and Sam Ulph added a conversion and penalty.

Director of rugby Schmid said: “Obviously, I’m happy with 10 wins out of 11 and we’d have taken that at the start of the season.

“We are working hard on quality of performance and we have played some good rugby against good sides. “I was very happy to come away with a win because Launceston are a strong side who defended very well.

“But our defence also had to be superb at times in a game with two very committed and passionate teams.

“The forwards again stood up to be counted and our physicality and defence was as good as I’ve ever seen it.”

Wing Richard Briggs got the vital try from a planned move following a scrum near the Launceston line and Sam Ulph added a conversion and penalty.

It was the perfect way for Esher to complete the first part of the season even though their lead at the top was cut to four points by local rivals London Scottish.

There are no National One fixtures this weekend and Schmid has given the players the week off to recharge their batteries ahead of the trip to Otley on November 28.

Schmid said: “Obviously I’m happy with 10 wins out of 11 and we’d have taken that at the start of the season.

“We are working hard on quality of performance and in the last two weeks we have played some good rugby against two good sides.

“But it’s a tough old slog to the end of the season. We have 19 games left and a lot of very difficult places to go to. We can’t take our foot off the gas.

“We can’t worry about what London Scottish or anybody else is doing. We just have to concentrate on our own game. You can’t look too far ahead because there are too many good teams in this league.”

Esher made four changes for the win in Cornwall with Ross Chisholm, Joe Marler, Jonny Hylton and Mark Blakeburn all unavailable.

But Schmid believes the strength in depth in the squad will mean the Molesey Road outfit can sustain their title challenge.

He added: “We had four starting changes and two bench changes but the guys who came in all did well. It’s great to have that competition for places.

“Now we have a week off and it’ll be good for the players to have the break, both physically and mentally.

“We can get rid of a few bumps and bruises and then re-focus for the trip to Otley next week.”