Eton Manor have built a three-point lead atop the London League One North standings after recording a resounding 31-0 victory at Thurrock on Saturday.

A fourth success from four means Manor sit three points ahead of Colchester in second place, after showing more aggression and quality than Thurrock to pick up a comfortable victory.

As has been customary this season, Manor took an early lead when Michael Eghan crossed the line from 25 metres. The try came from an attacking line-out, which saw Ben Lockyer draw his man before feeding Eghan to cross. Reece Reed converted to give Manor a 7-0 lead.

Thurrock knocked on from a drop-out, resulting in a scrum from which Manor attacked once more; Reed finding Eghan, who looked set to score before being tackled and knocking the ball on in attempting to offload short of the line.

Manor came close against when they turned over possession; Lockyer kicking the ball forward for Stephen Ross to chase, but he was just beaten by the bounce of the ball as the visitors threatened a second score.

The lead was eventually doubled when Jack Sullivan won the ball from another Manor line-out, allowing the pack to drive forward. Thurrock looked to have resisted the away side, but a secondary surge saw Jack Tovey peel off the back of the maul and dive over the line. Reed converted once more.

A third try was just around the corner; Reed taking a quick tap and jinking his way up field before feeding Dan Johnson, who in turn returned the ball to Reed. A clever chip out to the wing found Eghan, who blasted past down the flank and dived in at the corner.

Johnson’s afternoon ended there though, having suffered a knee injury in the build-up.

Thurrock squandered a rare opportunity to get back into the game when a 35-yard penalty was carried wide of the posts by the wind, the half closing with Manor 21-0 ahead.

Peter Bicknell became the second Manor casualty after receiving stitches for a split lip, which ended his afternoon early.

Following further upheaval for the home side, Thurrock started the brightest after the break, but could not turn their territory into scoring opportunities.

From a drop-out, Manor began to work their way up the field, assisted by a number of penalties conceded by their ill-disciplined hosts. Having kicked for a line-out inside the Thurrock 22, Manor set off on another unstoppable driving maul, with captain Tryson Goodchild driving over the line to pick up a fourth try and a bonus point to boot.

The conversion was successful once more, meaning Manor took a 28-0 lead just seven minutes into the second period.

Even the sin-binning of Eghan and Cooper-Hicks would not allow for the home side to get on the scoresheet and although Thurrock attacked with vigour, they could not find a way through Manor’s make-shift backline.

It was the visitors who scored the final points of the match when Reed kicked the points after the hosts strayed offside.

Chingford were also comfortable winners on the road, winning 34-7 at Ruislip to sit in third place in the League One North standings.

Elsewhere in the division, bottom-of-the-league Woodford were well-beaten at Luton, going down 39-0.

In League Three North East, Wanstead forfeited their game against Finchley as they were unable to field enough players.