After the disappointing defeat at Chobham last week, Sutton & Epsom returned to form with an emphatic 43-25 victory over Gosport & Fareham in a thoroughly entertaining encounter at Rugby Lane on Saturday.

Jak Martin returned to the team in place of Steve Munford, who suffered a fractured leg at Chobham, Steve Burton replaced Matt Harwood in the second row and Mickey Pointing returned at hooker.

The reverse fixture in September had provided 89 points and a larger than average crowd witnessed a further 68 points as both sides served up another 10 tries; Sutton outscoring the visitors by six to four.

Sutton’s victory and bonus point had been secured before the hour mark, and while Sutton relaxed the visitors continued to press and obtained a try bonus point courtesy of some slack Sutton defending in the closing stages, allowing Gosport to score three tries in the second half.

Kyren Ghumra and Andy Matthews both added a further two tries to their season’s tally of nine and eight respectively.

Ghumra showed his electric pace when he intercepted a Gosport pass to run over 50m in the first half and then repeated the feat in the second when he completed a back line move with a mazing run past numerous defenders from the halfway line.

Andy Matthews’ second try came by means of a 60m interception adding to his first half effort when the Gosport defence was caught flat footed after Chris Pointing had turned the ball over for Sutton.

Sutton scored three tries in each half and Matt Whitaker, with his third try in his last three appearances, opened Sutton’s account following a well-rehearsed move from a line out close to the Gosport goal line.

Not to be outdone, Andy Nichols added Sutton’s sixth try and Hurley enjoyed a successful afternoon, having taken over kicking duties from the injured Munford with five conversions and a penalty.

It is perhaps hard to draw too many conclusions from the game itself but Sutton will be pleased with a further five league points.

Gosport were stubborn opponents but they looked to run the ball wherever possible.

In the tight neither pack could claim that they held the upper hand all afternoon and the gusting wind did not help matters.

Sutton took their first half opportunities to lead 24–7 at half time, but on another day they may have scored more tries as Gosport seemed content to concede penalties as the wind made place kicking more challenging, and they appeared to have the measure of Sutton’s normally effective driving maul.

Results in other games mean that Sutton remain fourth in the table and next week travel to Brighton Blues, whose form has dipped of late with only one victory in their last six games - kick-off is at 2pm.

Team: Sam Hurley, Andy Nichols, Guy Stuckey – Clarke, Andy Matthews, Kyren Ghumra, Frankie Murray Jak Martin, Tariq Al Khaldi, Mickey Pointing Craig Bellringer, Mike Blakeburn, Steve Burton, Chris Pointing, James Caddy and Matt Whitaker. Replacements (all used): Ian Knott, George London, Raynn Bruce.