SURREY sealed their place at Twickenham with an emphatic victory against Sussex at Worthing on Saturday.
With the bait of an appearance at Twickenham awaiting the winners, playing after the England versus Barbarians international match, both sides were tense at the start.
After Sussex had shocked Surrey by winning an early scrum ball against the head, the visitors then settled down and began to build momentum in the game.
With some slick handling by the visitors backs, talented Dorking winger Ryan Jeffery tore away and scored the first try in the corner, to put Surrey 5-0 ahead.
Jeffery then had a second try attempt disallowed, for a foot in touch after a superb length of the field break.
Back came Sussex and their fly-half Tom Stokes was unlucky when a penalty goal hit the post and was cleared away by Surrey.
The home side put in some determined attacks, but Surrey defended well.
Surrey captain and fly-half Neil Hallett then slotted over a superb penalty to ease Surrey further ahead.
Shortly afterwards, Sussex got their first points on the board when fly-half Stokes kicked a penalty.
Surrey bounced back immediately and excellent handling again by the backs brought Jeffery his second try.
With half-time approaching, Sussex at last managed to grab a try when a good inside pass from wing Tom Jackson brought a try for Tom Polhill of Chichester, to make it 13-8 to the visitors at the break.
The second half began with Surrey's pack getting increasingly on top and providing good ball for the stylish backs.
Dorking centre Matt Noble then scored one of his trademark solo tries. Hallett added the conversion points to push Surrey into a strong 23-8 lead.
Sussex were down to 14 men temporarily when Burgess Hill lock Jake Brown was yellow carded for a technical offence.
Despite some spirited attacks by Sussex, Surrey's defence held firm and it was no surprise when a clever chip ahead was grabbed by full-back Matt Betty, to score Surrey's fourth try, with Neil Hallett again adding the conversion.
Sussex went close on several occasions, but even when they got over the line stout defence by Surrey kept them at bay.
Surrey replacement scrum-half Will Crow then slipped the ball to prop Ben Knight to score Surrey's final try and bring the final scoreline of 35-8 to the visitors.
Surrey: Matt Betty (East Grinstead), George Owen (London Irish Wild Geese), Matt Noble (Dorking), Sean Cunningham (London Irish WG), Ryan Jeffery (Dorking), Neil Hallett (Wimbledon), Steve Munford (Dorking), Ben Knight (Dorking), James Catton (Dorking), Charlie Connor (London Irish WG ), Armand Roux (Dorking), Matt Higgins (Dorking), Scott Moore (London Irish WG), Jon Vermont, Ian White (Dorking).
Replacements: Joey Nanai (Wimbledon), Sam Johnson (Dorking), Cathal Murphy (London Irish WG), Harry Watts (Dorking), Will Crow (Dorking), Fraser Macdonald (Dorking), Fraser Mosley (Dorking).
