A hat-trick by Sam Allen was not enough for St Albans Centurions as they fell to a 44-22 derby defeat at Hemel Stags.
They were on top for the opening 10 minutes but couldn’t find a way over the line.
And they were made to pay as Hemel ran in four tries, three of them converted, in a sparkling 10-minute spell.
Allen got his first just before the break with a side-step, converting it as well, and he danced through early in the second period, converting that one too, to narrow the gap further.
And when a long pass put Joe Shaw in straight after, the gap was down to 10.
But the threat of a comeback woke Hemel up and five tries in 17 minutes finished the game as a contest.
There was still time though for Allen to score and convert his third.
The quest for a first victory of the East Rugby League season takes St Albans to Brentwood Eels on Saturday.
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