Despite scoring nine tries there was a feeling of dissatisfaction in the Sutton & Epsom dressing room after their 55-29 victory over bottom of the table Hove.

Who would have thought the heroic defenders from the previous Charlton Park victory would be so porous the next time they played.

However, great credit to Hove who turned around 32 points adrift, but attacked relentlessly in the second half to earn a valuable four-try bonus point in their fight for survival in London Division One South.

From the kick off the black and white pack was dominant, shunting the Hove eight backwards at a rate of knots.

From such a platform Matt Whitaker needed no encouragement running in a first-half hat trick of tries as they failed to contain his pace and power.

After the early score from Guy Stuckey-Clarke on three minutes and Whitaker's first 10 minutes later the home crowd expected an avalanche of points.

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Steve Munford

However, they had to wait until the 39th minute for the next score, the first of three quickfire strikes that ended the half.

With Whitaker striding in for two tries and Andy Matthews adding his own fine solo strike added to Sam Hurley's faultless first period display of kicking meant that Sutton turned around comfortably 35-3 ahead.

As well as Hove responded to the challenge, Sutton lost focus and intensity in the third quarter.

Missed tackles led to the first try which was swiftly followed by an interception run in from 70 yards.

As if woken from their slumber the home side ran in two well worked team tries with Knott and Matthews touching down in the corner.

If the Rugby Lane faithful thought normal service had resumed they were in for a shock as the south coast team rallied with their own brace of tries within five minutes.

The first of which epitomised the enterprise of their backs and their attacking elan as a deft chip was recovered before interchanging passes saw a fine score under the posts. 

This might have been great entertainment for the neutral but it was agony for the coaches as the game became open and error-strewn.

In a scrappy second half for the home team Mickey Pointing shone as a beacon of quality as his deft passing, more suited to a fly half than a hooker, created three tries.

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First over: Guy Stuckey-Clarke opens the scoring for Sutton & Epsom

The chief beneficiary was the evergreen Steve Warnham rolling back the years as he appeared with a late two-try cameo from the bench.

With leaders Wimbledon being toppled by Chobham, Sutton & Epsom's promotion hopes were slightly dented this weekend.

However, having dispatched bottom club Hove they have the good fortune to play the other three strugglers among their six remaining fixtures.

In a London One South that has been tightly contested all season Sutton need to show a more ruthless streak against the likes of Twickenham, Basingstoke and Dover if are to force their way into the top two places.

This weekend, they visit Havant and if recent encounters between these two teams are any guide to form it will be a high scoring game with the Surrey visitors hoping to extend their three-game winning streak over their Hampshire hosts.

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