Sutton & Epsom moved off the bottom of National Three London & South East, leapfrogging Saturday’s visitors Haywards Heath.

Thanks to a superb solid defence, they held off a determined visiting side who, at times, showed great handling and loading skills.

Sutton made the most of the chances they created, often against the run of play.

Sutton held a 6-0 lead after 25 minutes thanks to two penalties from skipper Steve Munford.

However, a clever kick ahead by wing Owen Ashton saw his fly-half Rob Jackson win the race for the touch down, Ashton’s conversion giving Heath a one-point advantage.

Sutton, who had the better of play until then, were stung into action and, after three drives by the pack were stopped inches short, the ball was popped up for winger Colin Richens to score close to the posts. Munford converted and kicked another penalty to give Sutton a 16-7 half-time lead.

In the second half, Haywards Heath came at Sutton in waves, but obdurate defence kept them out.

Then, just as Heath seemed to have an opening, winger Andy Nicholls, travelling flat out, took an interception on halfway and scored under the posts. Munford’s conversion gave Sutton a 16-point cushion.

After that, Sutton were pinned back again and Ashton kicked a penalty for Heath.

Home number eight Simon Hough was also sin-binned for 10 minutes, but Sutton dug deep.

And when Heath attempted to attack out of defence, Sutton forced a mistake, centre Liam Brown hacked ahead and captain Munford dived in for the touchdown.

Munford again converted, but Heath refused to throw in the towel. Their handling skill paid off when an overlap on the right allowed Ashton to slip through and score, but he missed his conversion attempt.

Heath threatened for the next two minute,s but gradually Sutton got back on top, twice having tries disallowed.

Eventualy, winning ball on their left they sent it out right finding prop Sean Kent out near the right wing.

He committed the defence popped the ball outside to flanker Scott Wallbank who went in for the all important bonus point try.

The conversion the last kick of the game was missed.

The match was part of Andrea Hinton Memorial Day in memory of the former Sutton & Epsom women’s captain Andrea Hinton who died suddenly of leukaemia last February.

More than £1,000 was raised for her favourite charity, Breast Cancer Research, while Sutton & Epsom Ladies ran out 32-0 winners over a combined Newbury and Rosslyn Park side.

Full-back Kelly Rutledge scored a hat-trick of tries with skipper Becky Ballentine (two) and Becky Moar also going over.

Sutton visit Dorking this Saturday (2.30pm).