Holt joint coach Ed Steed believes his side's bid for back-to-back promotions is firmly back on track after seeing them react positively to their first league defeat.

The Owls bounced back from a shock reverse at Upminster in impressive fashion when they won 21-8 at Norfolk rivals Wymondham to maintain a nine-point lead at the top of London Division 3NE.

With third-placed Stowmarket a further nine points adrift Holt are well placed to claim a top two finish, especially as there are now just eight fixtures left to play, starting with the visit of Sudbury on Saturday.

Steed knows there is still plenty of work to be done – but he was hugely encouraged by the way his men performed at Wymondham and knows more of the same for the reminder of the season should carry them comfortably over the line.

'The result at Upminister was a wake-up call for us, there's no doubt about that,' he said. 'Maybe a little complacency had crept in, I don't know, but on the day they played better than us and deserved to win.

'There were a lot of glum faces after that match because none of the lads are used to losing. After winning 18 league matches on the trot going back to last season it was a bit of a shock for them but, as I said afterwards, there was no point in getting down about it. It was just a question of making sure they produced a reaction.'

Holt knew it would have to come against a Wymondham side boosted by an excellent away win at Norwich and in the mood to inflict more misery on another of their Norfolk rivals. The challenge was there – nd Holt rose to the occasion as a big crowd saw exactly why they are flying high at the top.

'It was a tough game, and to their credit Wymondham played really well, but in the end I think we had a bit too much power for them up front and deserved our win,' said Steed.

Normal service having been resumed Holt now have a big match at second place Harlow to look forward to but like all good coaches Steed is looking no further ahead than the game with Sudbury, which followed a free weekend.

'It's a boring old adage, I know, but when you are in a position like ours you really do need to take it one game at a time,' said Steed.'With only eight games left to play we have got a good chance of going up but we can't get ahead of ourselves.'