Fresh from their pre-season Pacific tour, the Epsom College 1st XV started the regular season in style on Saturday with a hard fought 22-18 away win away over Tonbridge School.

Epsom started the match confidently and a quickly taken penalty led to a try by flanker Lucas Smith-Muller after 10 minutes. Ed Rosen converted to give the College side a 7-0 lead. Several further openings almost led to scores for Jordan Burns, but Tonbridge defended well and gradually worked their way into the game, scoring two tries of their own to take a 10-7 lead into half time.

The intensity increased in the second half and the outcome of the game was in the balance when the Tonbridge centre swept through to score from a well worked move to increase the home team’s lead to 15-7.

Epsom were forced to dig deep into their reserves of energy and were rewarded with a long range try from Jordan Burns and, with 15 minutes remaining, Ed Rosen kicked a penalty to level the scores at 15-15 after a period of Epsom pressure.

Tonbridge regained the lead with a well taken penalty, but with time ticking away the Epsom team regained the initiative and No 8 Will Brown forced his way over from a 5m scrum. An excellent conversion gave Epsom a four point cushion that they defended until the final whistle.