TOTTONIANS kicked off their second London 1 South season with a battling home victory over a side that twice gave them a hard game last term.

Brighton finished fifth, two places above Totts, in 2015/16 with both teams claiming victory on their own turf.

And it was Totts who claimed early bragging rights at the start of what promises to be another long, gruelling season when they defeated their south coast rivals 26-10.

Captain Robbie Searle led by example as he proved a danger all afternoon– his well-known accurate kicking and intelligent open play producing 21 points.

He put the first points on Totts’ scoreboard when he intercepted on the halfway line and ran in under the posts unopposed before converting. The fly-half put his team 10-0 up minutes later with a neatly struck penalty.

However, the advantage did little to dent Brighton’s determination and a penalty and converted try brought them level before another Robbie Searle penalty regained the advantage.

A Brighton penalty attempt hit the upright and the home side went into the break 13-10 up.

Searle added another three points five minutes into the second half as the visitors infringed in driving rain and he collected three more as Totts moved on to 19-10.

Mike Searle spent ten minutes on the sidelines after reacting to some underhand play and Brighton took the score to 19-16 while he was off the field.

However, the centre put the frustration of a yellow card to good use when he returned and brushed off three would-be tacklers to score under the posts to make the conversion simple for his cousin.

While the Searles put the points on the board, Robbie was keen to highlight the efforts of the pack, especially as the conditions changed, with special praise for Ieuan Williams and new hooker Liam Murphy who has moved over from neighbouring Southampton RFC.

Totts head for Gosport & Fareham this weekend.