Skipper Dave Slemen insists Esher will focus on performance not records in Saturday’s showdown against relegated Manchester at Molesey Road, writes Mark Bengoechea.

The newly crowned National One champions are odds-on to clock up a cricket score against a side who are conceding points at an alarming rate.

But fly-half Slemen says Esher will dismiss thoughts of records against a side who were doomed to relegation after losing almost their entire squad last summer.

He said: “The record has been mentioned but I’m not particularly bothered about it. It’s not something that particularly excites me.

“We must just focus on trying to play the same way we have all season.”

Esher will be presented with the National One trophy after the match and Slemen added: “It will undoubtedly be a great day for the club.

“We hope everyone who has played a part will be there to celebrate the achievement.

“We also hope to get a good crowd and it would be nice to put on a show for the fans.”

Esher Director of Rugby Schmid wants his side to finish the season on a high as they aim for their 18th successive league win.

The Manchester clash is the first of three successive home games alongside Redruth and Sedgley Park before their final league match at Cinderford.

Schmid said: “The boys know we should win comfortably but I don’t want them to be too lax and I don’t want it to turn into a game of Sevens.

“We will respect Manchester, who are a great rugby club and who have done a wonderful job to keep everything together under the circumstances.

“A club like Manchester will bounce back and I certainly hope they do.

"But we must concentrate on our own performance and look to execute our gameplan to the best of our ability.”

Esher claimed their 17th win with a 38-24 victory at Wharfedale with centre Seb Jewell grabbing a try double to take his season's tally to 17.

Scrum-half Garrick Cowley also scored two while Andrew Garner and Tom Loizides also got on the scoresheet.

Schmid said: “I wasn’t very happy with the first-half performance because we missed too many tackles and turned over a lot of ball. We were mentally lazy.

“But we improved in the second half and scored some good tries. We have set high standards this season and don't want to let them slip.”