Trojans’ plan for a five-point London 1 South win at Stoneham Lane fell apart last weekend as opponents Cobham turned the tables on their hosts.

The Surrey side moved nine points clear of Trojans with a 25-24 bonus-point victory, leaving the home team back in London 1 South’s bottom two.

Trojans handed Cobham three early and unnecessary points when the referee awarded a penalty for back-chatting him.

But, after a dull 20 minutes, the home side picked up and ended the half 17-15 in front through tries from Tom Stevenson and Simon Greenhalgh to go with two Joby Kochanowski conversions and a penalty.

Cobham touched down twice after the break but another score from Stevenson, and the extra two points, got the home side to within a point.

Trojans came close to claiming the spoils with a penalty but the attempt dropped agonisingly short as the referee blew for time.

Trojans’ coach Barry Bridgman, who is about to be sidelined himself for some time for knee surgery, said: “I’m very disappointed, we really needed that to be a five-point win and instead they get a five-pointer and stretch away a bit more. Life is getting harder all the time we can’t put sides like that away.”

He added: “I hope the boys can get it all together whilst I am away having a new knee, it would be good to come back and find we are still in this division.”

See today's Southern Daily Echo for a comprehensive round-up of the weekend's local rugby action.