TOTTONIANS bounced back from a disappointing defeat to produce what many called the side’s best ever display at Water Lane.

They brushed aside the memory of losing to Hampshire rivals Havant the previous week to demolish London 1 South opponents Chobham 65-7.

Chobham had the upper hand on paper before the game, sitting two places above Totts courtesy of winning five more bonus points.

However, it was a totally different story on the field as the home side ran in nine tries – three of them from Bart van Herwijnen – and captain Robbie Searle kicked seven conversions and a couple of penalties.

Delighted long-standing president Ken Johnston said: “That really was something.

“I cannot remember seeing a better all-round team performance than that from us.”

There were not many signs of the score avalanche in the opening stages – in fact the visitors were 7-0 up after 13 minutes.

But the lead was over in the blink of an eye and Chobham spent the rest of the afternoon on the back foot.

Herwijnen went over the line twice in the first half with a touchdown sandwiched in between from prop Tom Gregory.

The bonus point try came just after the break when scrum half Harry Dolbear finished off a move involving Faisal Mutiti, Dan Stocks and Nick Jones.

Herwijnen brought up his hat-trick before a superb solo try from Pierre Clark. Ieuan Williams went over the whitewash when he touched down off the back of a catch-and-drive and Clark helped himself to a second before Mutiti zipped over in the corner.

Totts’ coach Gavin Williams said: “That was our performance of the season.

“The set piece was outstanding, the scrum especially, we dominated them there and took away their platform of play.

“The decision making and game management during the match was exceptionally good.

“It was a really strong team performance and the success rate and execution of what we are trying to do was exceptionally good.

“Havant was a game we could have won but probably didn’t deserve to and it was important we bounced back and the guys certainly did that.

“Their guys we very complimentary about our performance as well so we need to kick on and finish this calendar year on a high.”

He added: “To see the guys coming off the bench and making such a significant impact as well – Stew Davies, Kevin Raquio and Mark Amey – all bodes well.”