A blistering first half from St Albans Centurions paved the way to a 46-30 home victory over North Herts Crusaders – although they had to survive a strong fight back in the second half.
The Toulmin Drive rugby league side ran in six tries in the opening 40 minutes to go in 34-6 ahead.
They even scored the first try of the second half to go further ahead but Crusaders made a game of it, running in four tries of their own to add a touch of respectability to the score.
Hat-trick hero Sam Allen was the star for Cents, taking his try tally to five in just his second-ever game of rugby league.
Sam Bucknall and Alex Ricci got two with Joe Baker the other.
Nick Woolley landed six conversions.
The win puts Cents in third position of the East Rugby League, having played one more than Bedford Tigers and Hemel Stags ahead of them.
Injuries continue to be the one cause of concern for St albans though.
They went into this game without six first-team regulars, and with yet more players making their first team debut.
Team manager Tony Bottomley said: “Once again it was a game of two halves, and it will continue like this until we have a settled squad that is not being changed every week by injuries.
“This season it seems that as soon as we get a couple of players back from injury, we lose three more.
“However, the boys played very well today. I can say well done to both the new players and the regular squad members.”
The teams will clash again this Saturday in Hitchin in the East Rugby League Shield semi-final.
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