Sutton & Epsom showed great resilience to live with Hertford, the best team they have played this season, in the London Division One match at Rugby Lane, Cheam, on Saturday, writes John Ashton.

Richard Justice and Robbie Miller scored first-half tries for Hertford, with Sam Frost kicking two penalties for Sutton, giving the visitors as 12-6 half-time advantage.

Sloppy play from Sutton allowed Simon Pindar to extend Hertford's lead early in the second-half and, while number eight Justin Van der Pant was in the sin-bin, Pindar scored their fourth try.

Sutton got a deserved late try when centre Jake Webber burst through, committed the defence and put full-back Keith Middleton over wide on the left.

The Driftbridge Volkswagen man-of-the-match was flanker James Clark.

Fifth-placed Sutton visit London Nigerian at Wormwood Scrubs on Saturday.

January 31, 2003 11:00