DESPITE coming out on the wrong end of the result against league leaders East Grinstead on Saturday, Sevenoaks Rugby Club's George Roffey thinks the performance could give his side momentum going into the final stages of the season.

Oaks pushed the runaway leaders all the way at Knole Paddock in a thrilling encounter and, on another day and with a bit of good fortune, could have inflicted a second league defeat of the season on the visitors.

Roffey was delighted with the team's performance, he especially praised the front row, and is hoping the quality of the showing can be replicated in the remainder of the season.

"We had a bad result the week before last against Brighton – we didn't turn up and were awful," Roffey said.

"In the week, in training, we decided to change a few things, to keep it very simple. We wanted to spread them across the pitch and make sure our tackles and defence were spot on.

"We had a bit more size in up front, we had a couple of players back in the pack who had been injured, and our defence and tackling was excellent.

"We hassled and harried them excellently – because of their size, if you run at angles then they struggle to cope. We knew we had to be frugal in possession early on – in a lot of their games, they have scored lots of points in the first 10-15 minutes.

"Our targets before the game were to get a bonus point and defend better, but at half-time we had a choice to make.

"Do we carry on and take a chance or ease off and get walloped?

"Although we lost, collectively we were excellent and much calmer than we have been this season."

Injuries have prevented Oaks from being able to field their full strength team for the majority of the season, but now the walking wounded are beginning to return and Roffey thinks results should pick up.

Sevenoaks travel to Charlton Park on Saturday, looking to avenge their loss earlier in the season, kick-off 2.30pm.

"The performance against East Grinstead is the standard now," he said.

"With Sevenoaks, it has never been about ability, we have always had it, it has been about the mental side – being ready to compete on the day.

"Everyone played their part on Saturday and came off the pitch proud, but we have to perform like that against sides we lost to earlier in the season – not just against the league leaders."