A five-try win sees Oundle Rugby Club snapping at the heels of the National League leaders

The local lads moved up to second place in National League 2 East – the highest level the club has ever competed at – with a convincing 35-11 win at wet and windy Esher on Saturday.

And with leaders Old Albanians suffering just a second defeat of the season Oundle are now just four points off top spot with a home game against lowly Sevenoaks at Occupation Road to come next on Saturday, December 6. A word of warning though as Sevenoaks were the team to crush Old Albanians 45-12 yesterday.

Oundle were always in control in Esher as their experienced players managed the game perfectly in tricky conditions. Prop Harry Morley set the ball rolling by charging over for a ninth minute try which Ben Young converted. Young would go on to successfully convert all five Oundle tries.

Grant Snelling bagged the second on 31 minutes, touching down after a trademark driving maul before the hosts grabbed an unconverted try and penalty to leave Oundle 14-8 ahead at the break. The home side threw everything at the visitors at the start of the second-half, but stout defending restricted them to a single penalty, and with the elements at their backs Oundle looked dangerous every time they attacked the Esher line. They were richly rewarded with further tries Snelling again, winger Rian Hamilton and second row forward Shay Kerry as Oundle secured an impressive bonus point win.

Standings (all played 11): 1 Old Albanians 46pts, 2 Oundle 42pts, 3 Dorking 39pts, 4 Bury St Edmunds 39pts, 5 Barnes 38pts, 6 Westcombe Park 35pts, 7 Guernsey 34pts, 8 Canterbury 32pts, 9 London Welsh 26pts, 10 Esher 24pts, 11 Havant 24pts, 12 Sevenoaks 23pts, 13 Henley 20pts, 14 Oxford Harlequins 11pts. The club will also hold the delayed opening of The Johnny Reynolds Memorial Stand prior to kick off against Sevenoaks. Weather conditions forced the postponement of the original date.