A late converted try gave Medway a nail-biting 22-21 Regional 2 South East win over fellow highfliers Battersea Ironsides at Priestfields.

Jamie Ford was the hero as he added the extras to Deji Oyesola’s touchdown in the final moments to move his side level on points with the south Londoners and one point behind second-placed Sidcup.

Medway captain Antony Clement helped put the first points on the board inside 10 minutes. He dummied to Noah Hyde before Conor Chalmers combined with player-of-the-match Max Bullock and he did the rest, although he missed the extras.

There was a setback when hooker Josh Knight came off worst after tackling Battersea's No.8, suffering a shoulder injury, and while Medway were down to 14 men the visitors made it through to lead 7-5.

They increased their lead when, from a scrum on the line, they scored a try under the posts and nearly got over for a third time but for Bullock’s try-saving tackle.

Medway get themselves back in the game with a try from Todd Revell just before half-time after an offload from Bullock to trail by two, but Battersea added another converted effort - their final try of the game - to lead 21-12.

Good defensive work by John Sipawa stopped the away side from from pulling further ahead, while a Bullock penalty left Medway one converted score from the lead.

Several tense phases along the tryline followed with Oyesola finally getting over the whitewash, leaving Ford to kick for a one-point advantage - and ultimately victory - and he held his nerve.

Medway, in fourth, host fifth-placed Sutton and Epsom on Saturday.