After a Christmas book-ended by crushing defeats away to Old Caterhamians III and Reigate, the latter being a Surrey Cup tie, South Godstone had to get back to winning ways when they hosted Old Emanuel II, at Lagham Road, on Saturday.
Despite a sodden pitch, the Stags tried to play positive rugby from the outset, the forwards winning good ball at the scrum and ruck against much bigger opponents, allowing scrum-half Jonathan Barker to release his backline, accompanied by probing runs from Max Crawley-Moore and Liam Brooks.
The resilient OE defence held firm, however, resulting in the only first-half points coming from the boot of fly-half Reece Cobby, who slotted over two penalties.
However, indiscipline from the Stags at the start of the second half invited OE back into the game and they drew level, also through two penalties.
Stags were spurred on, the pack tightening their grip on the breakdown against opponents beginning to tire on an increasingly heavy pitch.
Their efforts were rewarded by a penalty in front of the posts, which Cobby coolly converted to make the score 9-6 to South Godstone, a score that remained to the final whistle, thanks to the strong defence of John Goodman.
The Stags next host Chobham V on January 31.
