Merton pulled off a shock 23-21 victory at third-placed Old Radleian in Surrey Three on Saturday.

Forced to draft in Dom Jessop, Jamie Snook and Chris Bosch for first-team debuts, Merton were pinned back early on.

The home side built up an early advantage thanks to three penalties, with Josh McNamara’s well-struck effort in reply for Merton.

The visitors’ hopes of making their mark received two setbacks when Jessop was forced off with a cut head, while Ed Lovatt also had to leave the field.

Despite this, Danny McLaughlin, veteran hooker Trevor Quinn and Dean Evans held the upper hand in the scrum.

Clean ball from the set piece saw James Newbury spin the ball out to McNamara, who took his man on the outside to slide over close to the sticks for a great individual effort, the conversion proving a formality for the same player.

Merton kept up the pressure on their opponents from the kick-off, Tim Rossiter, Nick Ramsey and Jimmy McLoughlin linking up well in the back row.

They managed to force the hosts into an indiscretion and, with everyone expecting a kick for goal, James Newark took a quick tap, made 10m and slipped the ball out to Newbury, who scooted over the whitewash to extend the lead going into half-time.

With the slope to look forward to in the second period, Merton looked to keep the ball tight and choose their attacking options carefully.

However, a large slice of good fortune played its part in stretching their lead.

McNamara’s kick was fumbled by the home left wing and, with the defence in disarray, Rob Greenwood, out on the wing due to injury, picked the ball up and started to head upwards towards the try line. He somehow made it before the covering players could reach him to give his side a 20-9 advantage.

ORs back into the match as, having left the field twice due to his head injury, Jessop finally succumbed and was replaced by Snook permanently.

The hosts eventually squeezed in at the corner for a try, a superb conversion from the touchline reducing the deficit.

McNamara was just off target with a penalty shot that would have increased Merton’s cushion to seven points.

Minutes later though, the same player was successful with a straightforward penalty in front of the posts.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Merton replaced Evans with Stuart Gordon after the former injured his leg.

OR, determined to snatch victory, launched an all out assault on the visitors’ line, finally breaching the home defence to come within two points and the conversion to come.

The kick, when it came, fell short and Merton breathed a huge sigh of relief.

As the game fragmented in the dying minutes, Glenn Williamson from full-back had a couple of mazy runs that almost brought more points for the visitors, but final passes went astray and there was no further scoring.

Merton now face local rivals Mitcham in a derby this Saturday.

Coach Kieran Blogg knows he is without Newell and Greenwood, while there are doubts over Lovatt, Evans and Jessop.

However, he hopes that Danny Trick, Mike Ward, Max Kohn, Alan Power, Chris Corby and Chuck Sanger will be available for selection.

New players, of all standards, are welcome to attend training on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm, under floodlights, at Morden Recreation Ground, Faversham Road, Morden. Call Jack on 07970 166958.