Charlie Cadogan's late try seals Esher win at Canterbury

Defeat in the opening round to Oundle – the early joint-leaders – was cancelled out by beating Havant and now Saturday’s victory in Kent, leaving the Elmbridge side just four points off the pace.

Es made the most of kicking downhill and with the wind in the first half, flanker Ant Pedlar going over within a minute, although the conversion sailed wide.

Canterbury contrived to miss a penalty in front of the posts soon after and conceded a penalty try on eight minutes, which cost hooker Sam Rogers a trip to the sinbin.

But Esher’s old weakness of conceding tries from lineouts haunted them when Max McCormack pushed over from the rolling maul, extras making the difference just five points.

That gap was opened up again just before the break, this time the visitors shoving their way over for Josh Thorne to touch down and Matt Dalrymple’s conversion making it 19-7 moments before the interval.

The Kent side were on the board again early in the second half, Rogers touching down. Wing Cadogan notched his first of the game on the right on 46 but the missed conversion meant the gap was just 10 points and it was cut to three when Oliver Ashley-Jones touched down for a converted effort on 54.

Now it was Esher’s turn to be reduced to 14 as flanker Angus Wilbourn was sent to the bin. Within a minute the Kent side had taken advantage through a Ryley Thomas try, their rolling maul proving highly effective once more although the resulting kick going wide meant they were just two points ahead at 26-24.

But when Canterbury suffered another yellow card and with Es back to full strength, the visitors showed their own lineout and rolling maul could be highly effective through Pedlar’s second.

Canterbury were still down to 14 when they grabbed back the lead as wing Maxim Campbell touched down to be 31-29 ahead with eight minutes remaining.

Es pressed hard to snatch back the points, appearing to be frustrated when they knocked on near the line, but charged again for Cadogan to cross in the dying moments.

Barnes, who have lost two out of three matches so far, head to Molesey Road on Saturday (September 19).

Games to come (3pm unless stated) – Sept 26: Barnes (H); Oct 3: Westcombe Pk (A); 10: London Welsh (H); 17: Guernsey (A, 2pm); 31: Jersey (H, 2pm); Nov 7: Henley (A); 14: Colchester (H); 21: Old Albanians (A); Dec 5: Dorking (H); 12: Leicester Lions (A, 2pm); 19: Havant (A).

Jan 9: Canterbury (H); 16: Barnes (A, 2pm); 23: Westcombe Pk (H); Feb 6: London Welsh (A, 2.30pm); 13: Guernsey (H, 2pm); 20: Jersey (A); March 6: Henley (H); 13: Colchester (A); 20: Old Albanians (H); April 3: Dorking (A); 10: Leicester Lions (H); 17: Oundle (H).