Harpenden are up to second in Regional One South East after a home win against Tring.
They had a blistering start to the game as tries from Tom Sweeney and Ben Campion were added to by another five points from the former's boot, all inside the opening 15 minutes.
But it needed an unconverted try from Dominic Ashwell with eight minutes to go to secure the 20-17 victory.
Old Albanian remain firmly in the middle of the National Two East pack after a home win over Westcombe Park.
It needed a last-gasp try to do so though as they sneaked through 24-20 at Woollams, moving above their visitors and into eighth.
Haydn Barnes got it after a tap and go penalty from five metres out, scurrying through a gap and over the line, Sam Jones adding the conversion for good measure.
The south-east London based Park started the stronger and with a big pack looked to play a tight game in difficult conditions follow heavy morning rain.
Their opening try came on eight minutes as scrum-half Ricki Gould kicked through a flat OA defence for winger Toby Wallace to run on to and score in the corner.
The conversion was missed but Nathan Wyman made amends with a penalty 10 minutes later and then adding the extra two points following a try from Sam Fombo after several phases of play.
At 15-0 down and 26 minutes on the clock, Albanian needed to show something before half-time and they did just that with Jones landing a penalty before a seven point haul following a try from Alex Ricci.
That had all started when Jarryd Sage had gathered an errant Park pass and after taking play up to the visitors' 22, Ricci took over to go under the sticks.
And OAs carried on the momentum after the interval.
A charge down from Kemp Price allowed Lewis Jones to pick up the ball and score on 48 minutes, Jones converting to nudge the home side into a 17-15 lead.
Back came Westcombe Park though with Wallace getting his second on 67 minutes.
That looked to be it, despite the hosts being camped in the Park 22, until a series of penalties gave Barnes an opportunity he would not waste.
St Albans were beaten 36-27 away to Barnet Elizabethans in Counties Two Herts Middlesex but Tabard enjoyed a 31-0 win at home to Hendon.
It leaves Tabard sixth in the table and Saints ninth.
Verulamians are third in Counties Three Herts Middlesex, having beaten Uxbridge 54-28.
There will be plenty of creaking bones but twice as much entertainment and fun when Old Albanian Vets take on their St Albans counterparts on Friday in a 7.3opm kick-off at Woollams.
There are already more than 60 players over the age of 35 interested but more is definitely the merrier.
The elder statesmen of the game have been targeted by the RFU as an area where the sport needs to grow.
Vets Rugby in Hertfordshire continues to expand, reuniting a whole generation of former players who have fallen out of touch with the sport.
It is rekindling all the old friendships and rivalries, albeit at a slightly slower pace.
Tim Bonnett, president of the Herts RFU, has admitted the governing body is very happy with the numbers involved round the country.
Anyone who fancies a game should email Mick O'Shea at muckyshoe@hotmail.com or call 07989 898 842.
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