THE race for the title remains on course for a bumper finish as one team edged ahead at the top of the table.
James Valentine scored a hat-trick as Sutton & Epsom secured an important 45-21 bonus-point triumph away against Brentwood to make themselves favourite for the title.
The other try-scorers were Stefan Cooksammy, George Dyre, Matt Whitaker and Tom Lennard, who also kicked five conversions.
Meanwhile, secondplace Wimbledon were losers despite a secondhalf fightback against Sidcup at Crescent Farm.
Tries from Elliot Simmons and Fred Ruff combined with three penalties and a conversion from Josh Twyford was enough to secure the 21-20 win.
Wimbledon did pick up two bonus-points nevertheless, scoring four unconverted tries thanks to a Phil Chesters' hattrick and a single score fromNo.8 Kane Alboni.
Third-place Westcliff was on the winning side, overcoming Bedford Athletic 17-13 at the Gables.
Tries from Jim Smith and Seb Reynolds along with two penalties and a conversion from Ben McKeith were enough for the home side to get an important home victory.
Elsewhere Michael Allan scored four tries as Hertford was also victorious at home, picking up a comfortable 48-17 bonuspoint win against Dorking at Highfields.
Only one place separated the sides before kick-off but there was only one team in it as a brace from Michael Allan and Torran McDougall's score, all unconverted, give the hosts a 15-5 lead at the break.
Allen completed his hattrick after the restart before adding a fourth.
David Archer and Archie Wilkinson then completed the try-scoring for the rampant hosts.
Meanwhile, fourthplace Tring were able to also pick up a valuable 39-7 victory away at Guildford – inspired largely by their fly-half Ben Criddle who ran the show in a concining performance.
Tunbridge Wells won 26-5 at home to Chingford and elsewhere, CS Stags 1863 were dominant 41-26 winners over Shelford at The Davey Field.THE race for the title remains on course for a bumper finish as one team edged ahead at the top of the table.
James Valentine scored a hat-trick as Sutton & Epsom secured an important 45-21 bonus-point triumph away against Brentwood to make themselves favourite for the title.
The other try-scorers were Stefan Cooksammy, George Dyre, Matt Whitaker and Tom Lennard, who also kicked five conversions.
Meanwhile, secondplace Wimbledon were losers despite a secondhalf fightback against Sidcup at Crescent Farm.
Tries from Elliot Simmons and Fred Ruff combined with three penalties and a conversion from Josh Twyford was enough to secure the 21-20 win.
Wimbledon did pick up two bonus-points nevertheless, scoring four unconverted tries thanks to a Phil Chesters' hattrick and a single score fromNo.8 Kane Alboni.
Third-place Westcliff was on the winning side, overcoming Bedford Athletic 17-13 at the Gables.
Tries from Jim Smith and Seb Reynolds along with two penalties and a conversion from Ben McKeith were enough for the home side to get an important home victory.
Elsewhere Michael Allan scored four tries as Hertford was also victorious at home, picking up a comfortable 48-17 bonuspoint win against Dorking at Highfields.
Only one place separated the sides before kick-off but there was only one team in it as a brace from Michael Allan and Torran McDougall's score, all unconverted, give the hosts a 15-5 lead at the break.
Allen completed his hattrick after the restart before adding a fourth.
David Archer and Archie Wilkinson then completed the try-scoring for the rampant hosts.
Meanwhile, fourthplace Tring were able to also pick up a valuable 39-7 victory away at Guildford – inspired largely by their fly-half Ben Criddle who ran the show in a concining performance.
Tunbridge Wells won 26-5 at home to Chingford and elsewhere, CS Stags 1863 were dominant 41-26 winners over Shelford at The Davey Field.
