High-flying Horsham are happy to do their talking on the pitch

The ambitious club are currently leading the way at the top of London 3 South East and have just one defeat to their name all season.

They have amassed 45 points from their first 10 games and lead Dartfordians by a single point – who were their narrow conquerors in their only loss back in October.

Horsham head coach Nick Stocker, however, is not getting carried away and believes they will be better placed at the end of January to evaluate what scale of success they can reach this season.

With hopes of retaining their Sussex Cup as well as playing in the RFU Senior Vase in January and what could be a title-deciding home match against Dartfordians – there is plenty at stake for the Hammerpond Road club.

Stocker admits that the overall ambition of the club is to progress up the rugby pyramid, but they are staying coy on any title and promotion hopes with just under half the season played.

He said: “At the beginning of the season we looked at our performances last year and we just set the target of continuous improvement and that was from every part of the play.

“Last year our win rate was 70 per cent, we set 80 for this season and so far we are at 90 per cent. It is encouraging.

“We have lost one game in the league so far this season and we are just about to approach the halfway stage, so it’s a good milestone to see where we are.

“We have lots of big games ahead starting with two Sussex derbies before Christmas with Uckfield this weekend and then Pulborough.

“I believe it’s the same as last year when the winners and runners-up are promoted, so it’s important to open up a gap.

“We will take each game as it comes as the good old saying goes. We will look to win our games, then score four tries for the bonus point and once we have got that done, put down as many points against our opponents as possible.”

The club got in to London 2 in the 1990s – restructuring since, means that is now the equivalent of London 1 – but suffered successive relegations. A promotion this season would see the club attaining their highest level for 20 years.

Stocker added: “We are halfway through the season and top of the league and won all but one of our games. If I was pushed to say what I believe we can do, then I have to say we are well placed.

“But there are lots of things that can happen with injuries and other things can go against us, so I would say ask me again at the end of January.

“The club clearly has aspirations of developing further on and off the field. There are aspirations to push forward, so then promotion is something we want to do, whether that be this season or next, it remains to be seen.”