That was the view of just about everybody at Footes Lane on Saturday where the league leaders demonstrated the levels required to reach the very top of National Two.

Esher gave Raiders a 12-0 start and, having gained a small advantage by half time, blew us away in the second half.

How it could start so well and then fall apart is a little difficult to explain, but perhaps it was simply Esher taking time to wake up before ‘hitting their straps’ as the Aussies would say.

The game was less than five minutes old when fullback Callum Roberts crossed the line for the lead and four minutes later Joe Andresen produced a superb solo effort and with Charlie Davies converting 12-0 was a brilliant start.

Raiders stayed on the front foot for a while yet and had they managed to score again, the result may have been different.

But, as good sides do, Esher resisted, played their way into form and former Exeter Chiefs Academy player Sam Morley reduced the deficit to five by converting his own score.

Then it was the turn of the impressive Jack Lavin to set up Dan Rowland for a second try, this after Morley had slotted home a penalty.

Into the second half and inside 90sec Miles Rawstron-Rudd went over and with Sam Morley converting Esher were 24-12 ahead.

By now Charlie Simmonds had replaced Lucas Barker at scrum half and head coach Jordan Reynolds fully utilised his bench to try and salvage the game.

But, if anything, the home performance level dropped further.

Scrum half Sam Bullock went in under the posts 10 minutes in and Morley added extras for 31-12 lead.

Owen Thomas came on for the last half hour with Andresen moving to fullback.

Raiders were unable to capitalise on a period of strong pressure when they were encamped within five metres of the line, but ultimately Esher cashed in on a loose Simmonds pass and broke away for an easy score for full back Lavin to score in corner: 36-12. Morley converted again.

Raiders made a double switch in the pack with Dom Rice and Tim Ceillam giving way to Dan Morgan and James Burger who was soon sin-binned.

Some slick handling from Esher led to replacement scrum half Pierre Thompson stretching over and the exemplary Morley converted for a 45-12 lead with six minutes left.

A minute later fly half Morley hared through on the diagonal to score an exceptional try which he surprisingly failed to convert.

Morley got a rest thereafter but he had played a big part in the destruction.

Full back Lavin then ripped the ball out of Anthony Armstrong’s hands to go over for easy score which he converted himself to complete the rout.