Esher maintained their National Division Two title challenge with a hard-fought 34-12 win at Harrogate.

With the wind at their backs, Esher opened their account after 15 minutes when a trademark driving maul from a line-out saw skipper Duncan Cormack score.

Harrogate fought for every ball, but Esher looked the more positive side, with Matt Moore twice knocking-on when well place.

Neil Hallett's penalty stretched their lead and he also coverted Cormack's 32nd minute try.

Hallett went over himself four minutes later, carving his way through the Harrogate defence, and his conversion made it 22-0 at half-time.

It took Esher just three minutes of the second half to secure their bonus point. After collecting the ball deep inside his own half, Mike Marsh was unchallenged as he sprinted 60 yards to score out on the right wing.

Two tries in quick succession from Ben Hough and Shaun Collins saw Harrogate stage a mini comeback.

But Esher had the last word in the 67th after a forward charge, with Emmanuel Amapakabo snatching the ball for his try with Matt Leek adding the extras.

Esher visit Nuneaton in a rearranged fixture on Saturday.

Esher: Hallett (Barnes), Moore, Armitage, Clouston, Biggs, Leek, Marsh, Cormack, Doran (Goldsmith 43), Reid (Millard), Amapakabo, Barker, Butterworth, Vondrasek (Tubasei), Starling.