Esher head coach Ollie Smith was saddened that his assistant Ricky Nebbett could not be on the touchline for his team’s best performance of the season so far.

Nebbett, banned from the touchline until April 15 for verbally abusing a match official, missed the 32-19 win over Rosslyn Park that lifted Esher to second in National League One.

Smith, himself returning to the touchline after serving a three-week ban, described the win as his team’s best all-round performance and one from which he took a lot of pride.

“It was a cracking win over a very good Park side,” he said.

“It was just a shame that Ricky could not be there to see our most complete performance of the season.

“We did everything really well. Ricky and I have worked so hard together for this team and it’s a shame when one of you has to miss out.

“When you’re playing well as a result of the work you and your mate have put in, then you want your mate there when it comes off.”

Luke Daniels, pictured, bagged himself a try and kicked 12 points, while Tom Cheeseman, Andy Wright and Mike McFarlane also added five-point scores.

Esher are 20 points off leaders Ealing Trailfinders and, although they have five games remaining compared with Ealing’s four, with only the top team going up, Smith has called time on any promotion hopes.

He said: “Promotion’s gone, we know that.

“But it would probably be too early to go straight back up because we are not ready as a team or a club.”