Battersea Ironsides skipper Colin O’Keeffe says the Surrey One title is theirs to lose.

With three games remaining Ironsides, unbeaten in the league this season, are 10 points clear of Camberley, who have four games remaining.

The rivals go head to head on April 11 in Ironsides’ final game of the season, but O’Keeffe wants the title and promotion to the London leagues done and dusted by then.

“From now until the end of the season, we need to be as clinical as we can,” he said.

“We must make sure we’re focussed on one game at a time. Old Cranleighans [March 21] is a must-win five-pointer and Old Wimbledonians [March 28] is a must-win five-pointer.

“Doing that will mean that the Camberley game is immaterial.”

He added: “But we also want to finish the season unbeaten, so we won’t be giving Camberley a walkover in the final game.

“I am not sure if any team in this league has gone through the season unbeaten, I know we have not done it.

“This is by far the best season we’ve ever had. Our second string is top of Surrey Conference One, the thirds are fourth in Surrey Combination Two, and the fours are top of the Surrey Foundation – so it’s a pretty sound club.”

The key behind such a strong all-round campaign is no secret, and O’Keeffe knows two reasons why they are competing so well.

“We’ve had a mix of new and more experience coaches over the past two or three years - Alex Hadley has come in as head coach, Jamie Jacques works with the backs and David Holtom with the forwards - with some old heads who know how the club ticks,” he said.

London & SE Junior Vase final - Ironsides 23-11 Camberley: Revenge mission is on for Junior Vase champions Battersea Ironsides

Surrey Comet:

Let the party commence: Ironsides retained the London & SE Junior Vase last weekend with a 23-11 win over their Surrey One rivals Camberley

“They’ve brought in new patterns and more complex game plans, and we’ve got more intelligent players as a result.

“We can work out during a game how teams play and playing accordingly – you might find that in most of the leagues above is, but not necessarily in our league.”

He added: “Our strength in depth is another factor – we’re hugely lucky that year-on-year, probably because of our location and the good reputation of the club, we get new players dropping in because they are new to the area.”

But while some clubs may enjoy the social side of competition too much, O’Keeffe says his charges know exactly what is expected of them.

He also has a personal ambition to improve on last season, which was none-too-shabby either.

He said: “After last year’s good season as skipper, getting fourth in Surrey One and winning the regional Vase, there is more for me to grab.

“Promotion is the number one priority this year, and everyone has brought into that – we made it clear to the lads that that is what we wanted.”