TOTTONIANS kicked off their season with a comfortable win over late arrivals Old Blues.

But it was not all words of congratulations for Totts after the 51-13 London Division 3 South-West victory at their Water Lane ground as coach John Goodall called for consistency.

The young side showed much promise during the hot afternoon but a lot of their play was patchy and Goodall, pictured below, has warned that can not happen against tougher sides.

"It was a good start in difficult conditions with that temperature which made going very difficult," he said.

"But it was the same for both sides and we were not consistent enough. If we can sort that out and get the finishing together we will take some stopping."

The match was delayed for 15 minutes by referee Finn Dodd as Old Blues were caught up in traffic jams. And it seems the Surrey side - who avoided relegation by default last term - could well be second best in most of their contests this season.

The visitors were 3-0 up inside a minute as centre Rod Gibson, who accounted for all his side's points, struck with an early penalty.

But Totts hit back immediately as the backs neatly finished off an attack from their forwards. The ball ended in the hands of determined full-back Richard Buck who refused to be brought down to go over in the corner. His try was converted by captain Paul Goodall.

Tottonians' forwards - Matt Searle, Miles Northover, Tom Pearson, Mike Green, James Angove, Neil Angell, Richard Stewart and Jason Jones - dominated the scrums but some of their work went unrewarded through bad handling from the backs. One instance almost led to a breakaway try for Old Blues which was thwarted by a last-ditch, finger-tip tackle by Michael Dibden.

Totts increased their lead to 14-3 when Buck got on the end of a break from Richard Stewart and Paul Brading - Goodall again making the conversion.

But the concentration and consistency that coach John Goodall referred to lapsed for a moment and Old Blues' Gibson made them pay as he jinked through a static defence to score and then convert.

Scrum half Goodall hit back with a penalty and his side went into half-time 24-13 up after Chris Smith raced away to go over the line unchallenged - Old Blues hitting back with a penalty before the whistle.

Tottonians moved further ahead after the break as Buck claimed his hat-trick but they were then pegged back on their own line. Old Blues were inches from getting back into the match but lost possession and Goodall cleared to touch.

Centre Paul Brading and lock Mike Green took the pressure off Totts on several occasions with powerful runs through the Old Blues' defence to gain territory.

Old Blues then went to sleep and were punished as Paul Goodall pounced with a short five-metre penalty.

Mark Amey replaced Neil Angell who had a steady game and chances started to come thick and fast for Totts as the London side tired.

Matt Searle took the score to 39-13 and Totts were soon on 46 points as Lee Brading was one of three players on the overlap - Goodall converting again.

They passed the half-century mark when Paul Goodall - whose brother Martin made a successful return to fly-half - snapped up a loose ball following a Blues' put-in at the scrum.

Totts know they face much tougher opposition and John Goodall added: "We are looking forward to playing the likes of Andover and Winchester who are new to this league. They will be much harder but it will give us a measure of how far we have come."

TOTTONIANS: Matt Searle, Miles Northover, Tom Pearson, Mike Green, James Angove, Neil Angell (Mark Amey), Richard Stewart, Jason Jones; Paul Goodall, Martin Goodall; Michael Dibden, Paul Brading, Lee Brading, Chris Smith, Richard Buck.