Medway are a win away from the Regional 2 South East title after a 40-31 success at Battersea Ironsides.

Max Bullock scored four tries to give the leaders a two-point cushion over Beckenham with one game left. If they beat Old Tiffinians on April 5 the championship is theirs.

Bullock opened the scoring after Jonah Hyde, collecting the ball in the lineout, combined with Conor Chalmers - the latter finding Bullock for his 20th touchdown of the season. Jamie Ford added the extras.

Moments later it was 14-0. Medway intercepted the ball and, after both sides had a chance to take possession, a Bullock chase and score under the posts doubled the tally.

When Mikey Grice was shown a yellow card for dabbing the ball away the home side made the most of their advantage with a converted try for their No. 8, and they were quickest off the mark in the second half, too, the same player scoring with the conversion levelling matters.

Ironsides pulled ahead with a grubber kick that found their winger in the corner. This time the conversion was off course, leaving Bullock to restore parity after some great teamwork across the backs.

Battersea’s No.13 was next to score, picking the ball up in the midfield and charging down the field and under the posts, but man-of-the-match Bullock set up the fourth try for Medway, finding John Sipawa who went down with Ben Dance converting.

Two more away scores followed. Firstly from Bullock, with his fourth thanks to Dan Jackson hammering through the hosts’ defence, the conversion making it 33-24, before Richie Ajuzie picked up from the scrum and swandived over the line.

There was still time for Battersea to add a final try, but it proved no more than a consolation.