Merton handed new head coach Joe Burford a winning start with a 32-5 victory at Kent side Brockleains in the National RFU Vase, writes Jack Canniff.

He had been helped by Harlequins stars Olly Kohn and Jim Evans at last week’s training session and the top-level advice clearly paid off.

Merton started brightly with Alan Power, Chuck Sanger and Danny McLaughlin making good early ground.

Promising passing moves ended with John Casey, making his first XV debut after being named young player of the year last season, and Luke Tabb just being stopped short of the whitewash.

Finally, Glenn Williamson broke through the midfield and outpaced Brocks’ defence for the opening try, with Scott Newark adding the extras.

Then, some fine inter-passing saw Barros make a break and Casey had the foresight to slip a scoring pass to fellow winger Luke Tabb.

Another sweeping move then ended with Rice coming into the line at place and last season’s second XV player of the year opened his account for the season. Newark’s successful kick made it 22-0 at the break.

Brocks came back into it at the start of the second half. A series of rolling mauls took them within striking distance and they went over wide on the left.

Merton responded with a series of forays into home territory and Williamson evaded tackles in the middle of the park before swerving past the home full-back for his second try.

Replacement Danny Trick’s strong running caused further mayhem in the home defence but, after a flowing 10-man move, Merton missed out on a wonderful try when the scoring pass fell between Dodd and Gordon-Walker.

Merton’s forwards had the final say, excellent line-out work by Neil Quinn and James Newark seeing the ball run into the hands of player-of the-year Jimmy McLoughlin, who bustled over to score.

Merton visit Streatham-Croydon in a friendly this Saturday.