WHETHER Raiders win the league and/or promotion or not and the early season vibes are positive, nobody can claim to be a more exciting side. A week after the Dorking game produced very nearly 100 points, this one went past the half-century and - again - the Raiders supporters present went through the mill emotionally.

The support included no less than five sets of players parents - the Hills, the Steventons, the Browns, the Nixons and the Sayers all turning up in Surrey to see the lads fifth win in six starts and stay joint top with Hertford and Wimbledon with TJs and Westcombe Park breathing down our necks as the league takes a week’s break.

It was another four-try bonus point win too with Owen Thomas, Dan Hill, Luke Sayer and a penalty score, plus some sublime kicking from Owen, keeping our noses in front at the end. In truth, Raiders were by far the better team on the day and should have won with much more to spare.

There were too many mistakes from the visitors to get too excited by the performance, borne out by the fact that Raiders let slip an early 10-0 lead to be level at 10-10 at the break.

After an early Owen penalty our fly-half then converted his own fine Ryman. Sutton and Epsom then took advantage of a Raiders handling error while on the attack, and with the converted try and another penalty incurred after Layton Batiste's high tackle in front of the posts, it was level at half-time.

At half-time coach Jordan Reynolds urged patience from his men and it was a manoeuvre full of patient play that produced the next score for Dan Hill which Owen converted. Raiders extended their lead when after a number of collapsed scrums following a catch and drive towards the Sutton and Epsom line, the referee rightly awarded a penalty try which Owen converted for a comfortable 24-10 lead. Well, we thought it was comfortable.

Soon after Raiders wasted a 3 on 1 overlap and a grateful interception brought Sutton and Epsom back into the game. Then another cock-up by Raiders in their own half presented another opportunity which the home side took to move to 22-24. But then the try of the day settled it.

With over 30 phases of play from their own try-line, Luke Sayer completed the brilliant move with a short range overall try in the corner. Owen added the extras to complete the scoring.