St Albans may have just three teams below them in the London North West Three table but the 40-18 victory at home to Hitchin has them looking in just one direction – up.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans RFC V Hitchin - Sean Rapter in action for St Albans. Picture: KARYN HADDONSt Albans RFC V Hitchin - Sean Rapter in action for St Albans. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

They are just three points behind Welwyn in third in what is becoming an incredibly tight division, with second and promotion another four points away.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans RFC V Hitchin - Brenton Lemeire in action for St Albans. Picture: KARYN HADDONSt Albans RFC V Hitchin - Brenton Lemeire in action for St Albans. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

This win saw them run in four converted tries in the first half and a further two scores in the second, only one of which was converted.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans RFC V Hitchin - Joe Shaw in action for St Albans RFC. Picture: KARYN HADDONSt Albans RFC V Hitchin - Joe Shaw in action for St Albans RFC. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

It was a fine team performance which will look to replicate on Saturday when sixth-placed Old Streetonians visit Boggymead.

The fine results didn’t end with the first team though as the 2nds combined youth with experience to beat Old Albanian Gladiators 38-14.

Led by John Sayers in the absence of injured captain Scott Mineikis, Saints were up for this from the start.

They got the opening score from a driving maul from a line-out, which some of the forwards claimed was well over 30 metres.

The conversion was missed and a nasty leg injury to the Albanian hooker left the remaining scrums uncontested.

A second injury in the forwards also reduced OAs to 14 for the rest of the game and Saints took full advantage added a converted score following good hands and strong carries.

The Gladiators replied with a converted score of their own before Sayers added the final try of the half leaving St Albans 17-7 ahead.

The forward dominance and minimal penalty count in the first half had been a big factor in their lead and it continued after the break.

A fourth try, scored by Roy Dube, was followed by a fifth, both of which were converted.

Albanian kept battling and got their second try of the game but Saints finished the scoring off with a sixth try.

A spokesman for the team said: “We would like to congratulate a spirited Gladiators on good, hard-fought game played in great spirit.

“It will be an interesting return fixture.”