The last time Esher visited Wharfedale, April 2007, they had just clinched the league title, the sun shone, and the fans were treated to a magnificent match, ending 36-all. This time, much the same: Esher are champions; conditions perfect. If the standard of the play maybe fell a tad short of the previous extravaganza, there was plenty to excite and admire – from both sides – in a full-blooded, fast moving game.

Wharfedale, in fact, were always just second-best, but it was truly marginal for most of the game. They surely fought as hard as any opponents the champions have faced this season and, to the delight of the home faithful, clinched a thoroughly deserved bonus point with a splendid try in the final action of the match.

It was high-tempo stuff from the outset, both sides having early chances, but it was Esher who showed the clinical finish with tries by centre Seb Jewell (9 mins) and lively scrum-half Garrick Cowley (14), the latter converted by Jewell for 0-14.

Flanker Dan Solomi pulled one back for the Greens (19), burrowing his way to the line from the side of a ruck. Cowley grabbed his second (converted) (34), and centre Chris Malherbe ensured the last say of the half for the home side, put through to the right corner by winger James Tincknell, to leave the game reasonably balanced at 10-19 at the break.

The second half was fast, furious, and end-to-end, each side enjoying solid periods of pressure.

Jewell cut through a stretched defence (47), but Tincknell regenerated Wharfedale hopes (57), both tries converted (17-26).

A flurry of late tries saw substitute half-back Andrew Garner (78) and winger Thomas Loizides (80) cross for Esher, with Tincknell claiming Wharfedale’s bonus try, after an audacious chip and catch break by centre Andy Hodgson.

Wharfedale: L Gray; J Tincknell, C Malherbe, A Hodgson, D Hall (S Horsfall 71); M Bedworth, P Woodhead; B Fear (N Dickinson 52), M Chivers (G Hindle 71), C Steel, R Brown (O Renton 52), R Rhodes, L Maka’afi (T Wareing 76), D Solomi, R Baldwin.

Esher: J Hylton; T Lozides, C Baumberg (N Edwards 41), S Jewell, J Copsey; D Slemen, G Cowley (A Garner 67); D Millard, K Corrigan (J Campbell 71), C Hannon (D Frazier 67), P Barker, R Anderson (M Odejobi 50), S Gaynor, J Turasei, S Renwick.

Referee: Steve Lee