After all but securing their London One North status, Rich Hoskins wants his Fullerians side to continue to prove the doubters wrong with a strong finish to the season.

Many touted the Coningsby Drive outfit to struggle to avoid the drop, but a comprehensive 52-18 win over Chelmsford on Saturday put them within touching distance of survival.

Victory against bottom of the table Barking in their next match should rubber-stamp their London One status, and Hoskins is understandably pleased with his players.

“People said we were going to go down at the start of the season and it would be great to keep proving the doubters wrong by finishing strongly,” Hoskins said.

“We have improved as a group of players this season and that is a success in itself.

“I think the boys have taken the pressure in their stride and have grown as players and as individuals over the past few months. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Hoskins billed March as a pivotal month for Fullers and two wins from two encapsulates the manner in which his players have risen to his rallying cry.

Saturday’s victory was Fullers’ third in four games and saw them play some impressive rugby with ball in hand.

The size of the win, as well as the quality of play on show, delighted Hoskins as his side added guile to the grit which has underlined their campaign.

“We played some really good stuff at the weekend, and are learning as a team and getting better,” he said.

“We kept the ball well, hit some good lines and scored eight good tries by cutting through their backline.

“We were doing it regularly and that shows me that we have progressed already in that area. It is obviously about building on that now.”

Four games between now and the end of the season will provide the chance for Fullers to work on their game.

Two of those matches come against members of the top four, with a trip to leaders Tring and a home game against third place Chingford.

Beyond that the focus will turn to next season where Hoskins wants to see his side push on and avoid a similarly fraught season fighting relegation.

He will have to mastermind such plans without the help of assistant coach David Neal after confirming he is set to take over at Amersham & Chiltern.

Hoskins accepts Neal’s departure will be a loss, but believes the club can strengthen during the off-season.

He said: “It is sad that he is going because he has brought a lot to the squad. That has been a bit of a downer.

“We are going to keep a lot of the guys for next year and also look at adding to it.

“It is time to build for next season and to make sure we don’t stand still to avoid being in a relegation fight again.”

Elsewhere, Tabard claimed a 21-15 victory over London Nigerians in the London Two North West.

They started the game in flying form and went ahead from their first attack of the game as Tom King raced over with only 42 seconds on the clock.

Tabard extended the lead to eight points with 12 minutes on the clock as Jack Reilly added a penalty.

Despite controlling much of the ball, a sloppy lineout allowed Nigerians to score a converted try five minutes before the half-time interval.

The hosts’ start to the second half mirrored Tabard’s in the first as they scored an unconverted try a minute after the restart.

But a Cam O’Connor try and further penalty gave Tabard a 16-12 lead 15 minutes into the second half, before Nigerians hit back with a penalty of their own to set up a nervy conclusion.

Tabard maintained their composure in the closing stages and some good work at the lineout allowed Reilly to touch down in the corner.

The six point cushion gave Tabard some breathing space and they saw out the remainder of the game to claim victory.

The result leaves Tabard seventh in the table with three games remaining this season.

They face Enfield Ignatians at home in their next match where a win could see them climb a place, dependant on Harrow’s result.

Ignatians are a place behind Tabard and both sides have 38 points to their name.

Tomorrow’s opponents lost 63-17 to Belsize Park last time out.