Eton Manor returned to winning ways on their home patch on Saturday, beating newly-promoted North Walsham 35-10 to go second in London 1 North.

The first points went to the visitors as a Manor offside allowed Walsham to take a three-point lead from a penalty.

The home side came back strongly however, driving well from the lineouts and after ten minutes the pressure told as Walsham were forced to concede a penalty and Callum McKie converted to level the scores.

As Manor’s impetus was regularly frustrated by a series of infringements, the referee lost patience and Walsham’s captain and prop paid the price with a yellow card on the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Spurred on by the extra man, Manor’s Garth Tucker drove upfield and slick handling put Nick Horton over for a well-worked try a minute later before McKie added the extras to make it 10-3.

More Walsham indiscipline caused by Manor’s driving forwards led to a converted penalty after 20 minutes and the hosts continued to dominate with a more mobile pack.

Soon another try came and Tucker went from provider to scorer to extend Manor’s lead to 15-3, although McKie narrowly missed the conversion.

Manor lost flanker Dan Johnson to a bad knee injury but he was replaced by Kevin Reed, who made an instant contribution with some heavy tackling at the ruck. McKie added another three from the tee.

With half-time rapidly approaching, the Manor backs put together a series of slick passes to put in Peter Bicknell for a fine try and the successful conversion by McKie put Manor into a 25-3 lead at the break.

Walsham moved the ball quickly wide to allow a fine try under the posts and with the conversion added, the scoreline read 25-8.

The away team piled on the pressure but Manor held firm and it was the home side who grabbed the next crucial score through Horton. McKie added his conversion and Manor extended their lead to 35-10.

With the result settled, the final quarter of the game became scrappy and Reed paid the price with a yellow card while Walsham also lost their full-back for foul play a minute later.

Manor are away on Saturday to local rivals third-placed Chingford, who are only a point behind in the table.