London Three North West Hampstead 5 Harpenden 20 HARPENDEN visited Hampstead on a windswept Saturday at a ground they haven t won at for several seasons. With Hampstead opting to play with the strong winds in the first half, the Men in Black knew that t

London Three North West

Hampstead 5 Harpenden 20

HARPENDEN visited Hampstead on a windswept Saturday at a ground they haven't won at for several seasons.

With Hampstead opting to play with the strong winds in the first half, the Men in Black knew that their defence and counterattacking abilities would be tested to breaking point. The Hampstead pack asserted some authority but the Harpenden line out provided some consistent possession from which to clear their lines.

Diligent tackling by back and forward alike kept Hampstead at bay as Richard Kearns and Andrew Reed produced fine defensive displays.

Hampstead poured forward and Harpenden caught them out when Alan Barton made a 70-metre break. The direct result was a well struck three points by Jonny Barton as the game neared the halfway point.

The second half began with Harpenden in the ascendancy, with Barton kicking the corners well for team-mate and hooker Tennant to launch his side into outstanding field positions.

It was another break by scrum half Barton that resulted in the first points of the second half. A cleverly worked blindside enabled Barton the time and the space to chip behind the on-rushing defence and outpace the covering tackles to touch down just to the left of the upright. With his brother Jonny adding the extras, Harpenden had established a good lead.

Hampstead responded when their forwards forced Harpenden over their own line and touched down.

Jonny Barton replied for Harpenden with a penalty for persistent infringement at the breakdowns and they soon wrapped up the win. A thundering tackle and steal by impressive flanker Reed produced dangerous ball in the Hampstead 22. A blindside break from Rob Humphreys enabled Simon Smith to round his man and glide over for a well-worked score. Barton added the extras gave Harpenden a comfortable 20-5 win.

Harpenden: Hoare, J. Tennant, D. Willis, Peck, Hoare T, Brown, Read, Dumpleton, Barton, A.Barton, J. Tennant, J. Kearns, Payne, Smith, Evans. Subs; Chichester, Humphreys, Long.