Patience paid off for Tottonians who finally nailed worthy opponents Effingham & Leatherhead 31-13 after falling behind three times in their London 2 South-West clash.

Totts were in arrears after an early intercepted try by Eagles but the home side but held a slender advantage at the break thanks to two penalties from captain Robbie Searle.

Effingham struck with another try and they regained the lead once more with a penalty after Totts’ wing Richard Buck had touched down, evading three tackles to go over in the corner, writes CLIVE DOWNTON.

But that was the end of the road for the visitors as Totts pulled away.

Robbie Searle got the ball over the line and then added another eight points with a conversion and couple of penalties.

Hooker Nick Jones was also back on the scoreboard, crashing over in the last five minutes following a good break from Gareth Allen, with Searle making the conversion.

Head coach Gavin Williams said: “We were disappointed by our lack of accuracy in the first half but pleased to turn around with a slender lead.

“The second period was much more pleasing with dominance at the set piece providing us with the platform to attack. I was very pleased with the way the players responded to pressure from a strong Eagles side.”