Tottonians handed head coach Gavin Williams the best birthday present he could have wished for – top place in London 2 South-West.

Totts moved into first place with a scrappy but convincing win at Farnham, along with the shock defeat of London Cornish at Warlingham.

Farnham felt the force of Tottonians in the first minute – an up-and-under kick from captain Robbie Searle, playing at fullback, was pounced on by scrum half Harry Dolbear.

He found centre Mike Searle who touched down under the posts.

Wing Faisal Mutiti then crossed in the corner and, with a couple of conversions and a penalty, Totts reached halfway 17-6 ahead.

The match entered a long, untidy phase with no change to the scoreline until the 70th-minute. Totts turned over a Farnham scrum in the hosts’ 22 and the ball went through the backs and ended up with Richard Buck touching down.

Farnham’s winger did what he had been threatening all game and crossed the line in the corner.

However, Totts picked up a bonus point with the final play of the game.

With the scrum almost on their opponents’ line, Number 8 Dan Stocks picked up and fed Nick Jones who got the ball to ground before Bryn Marshall converted for a 31-13 win.

Williams, who celebrated his birthday the following day, said: “It is a bit unexpected to be top because I did not expect Cornish to lose.

“To be fair, we did not play that well but it is what it is ... we got a bonus point win away from home without playing very well.

“We showed a lot of character to get a try in the last minute because it meant we got a bonus point and shows the character of the team.”