St Albans let a 24-10 half-time lead slip in a three-point loss to Hampstead at Boggymead.

At 24-7, the hosts looked well on their way to picking up just their second London 2NW win of the season.

However, a penalty just before half-time left the door open for Hampstead and they burst through it in the second with 17 unanswered points to win the game.

Hampstead had shown signs early on of what was to come when their winger intercepted a pass and raced over the line for the opening score. Such was the response from St Albans, though, that victory looked assured.

Hayden McBride capped off several phases by forcing the ball over the line before Harry Trude, who had already converted a try, added three points to put St Albans 10-7 up.

Trude was perfect with his next two kicks, too, adding the extras after Jeza Walmsley and then Sam Millicheap dotted down, to put St Albans in a commanding position.

Even when Hampstead pulled three points back just before the interval, it didn’t seem significant such was St Albans’ dominance. But it proved to be the turning point in the game.

After the break, St Albans were manhandled by Hampstead as they ran in three second-half tries, turning the game on its head and taking a 27-24 lead.

By the time the final whistle blew, shell-shocked St Albans could only watch as Hampstead celebrated an unlikely victory. That feeling, though, could serve them well this Saturday when they travel to second-placed Harrow.