Hackney Rugby Club are not taking their promotion from London North West Three for granted – despite keeping their 100 per cent record intact with a come-from-behind win at Stevenage Town.

The Londoners trailed 31-19 with 20 minutes to go but with just four minutes to go they had edged ahead.

A Stevenage try on the final play threatened to bring a draw but the conversion from the left wing drifted across the posts and wide.

It was Hackney’s 19th successive win of the year and with just three games remaining they are hot favourites to claim the title as well, having wrapped up their second promotion in four years last week.

But head coach Marcus Tobin says the players are just taking it one game at a time.

He said: “We obviously were lucky enough to get promoted last week but what I’ve admired about the guys is I haven’t heard anything about being unbeaten or getting promoted.

“I didn’t see evidence of pressure. The pressure was we were playing a very good Stevenage side away as opposed to keeping an undefeated record.

“I don’t want to be 31-19 down in every game but the guys didn’t waver away from the processes and managed to get back into it and get a bonus point win.”

Tobin says that attitude spreads across the club and is not just confined to the players.

“The club are pretty sensible,” He continued. “We want to improve of course but myself and the coaching staff got together and looked at what we need to continue improving.

“We realise that if you do it unrealistically, you’re never going to get there. There has been a steady progression but the club want to be realistic and just do the best we can.

“There’s going to be hiccups but if you stay patient, there will be progression.”

Coaches, however, always have one eye on the bigger picture and Tobin, who is in his second year in the role, is no exception.

But he is confident that the group of players he has are more than capable of flourishing higher up the pyramid.

He said: “You can enjoy it but as a coach and a coaching team, you’ve got to think two or three steps ahead. There are certain elements about next season we’re already thinking about because going up the leagues will present certain challenges.

“I’ve been coaching for 18 years and this group of players are always looking to improve. They are very good and always work hard.”

Dave Akkersdyke led the way with two tries at Stevenage with Matthew Strong, Samuel Wilkinson, Alex O’Hara and Neil Cunningham getting the others.

Joe Askham added four conversions.

Hackney’s next game, against bottom of the table Staines on March 25, is their final home game of the season.

That is followed by two away games at Hemel Hempstead and Kilburn Cosmos.