An unexpected development preceded this clash of two high flying teams, as Cuffley lost five players overnight, and conceded the fixture, with a 13 a side friendly being played instead.

Cuffley started on the attack, but Winger Will Theaker put in a huge clearance kick, which became a 50:22, and won Hitchin an attacking lineout. The lineout was won and the ball was worked to the right edge. Scrum Half Nathan Hillier found Second Row Charlie Apsey on a short line, and Apsey powered through to open the scoring after just 6 minutes.

Number 8 Adam Baird returned to action after a long injury layoff. He punched up 20 metres in midfield, and Centre Cian Hynes put Hitchin within range after a line break. Hillier opted to tap the penalty, and one phase later Fly Half Ian Crompton found Flanker Jack Galer in a gap to finish from close range.

Cuffley showed flashes of their recent good form, particularly in attack, but whenever Hitchin recovered the ball they quickly advanced up the pitch. The home side conceded a penalty 6 metres out and Hillier again opted to tap the penalty. On the second phase Crompton passed to Hynes, who hit a short line into a gaping hole in the Cuffley defence. He converted his own try for a 19-0 lead inside 20 minutes.

Cuffley were awarded a penalty and the kick went into touch. The lineout was untidy, but the 9 collected a loose ball and ran into an unguarded 5 metres channel to score their first try. The conversion narrowed the deficit to 12 points.

The play returned to the Cuffley half. A first maul from an attacking lineout narrowly fell short, but another penalty was kicked to touch, and this time the maul rolled close enough to the try line for Hooker Ewan Rawlings to break free and score Hitchin's fourth try.

Hitchin squandered two promising attacking positions in the final 10 minutes of the first half, and the scoreline remained 7-26 into the half time interval.

Winger Callum Dockerill made a 60 metre arcing carry, stopped by a brilliant Cuffley tackle. Cuffley spilled a promising attack and Crompton kicked well up to the halfway line.

A penalty was awarded and Hynes kicked to 30 metres from the Cuffley line. The lineout was recycled to the backline, and it was Full Back Tom Asquith-Fox who found space. His stutter step beat his opposite number to round off a great Hitchin move with a try.

Crompton made a 50 metres line break, and a penalty was conceded for a high tackle. Another tap penalty and one phase later, Prop Iain Charnley collected from the base of the ruck and powered through two opposition players as he extended over the line.

With scrums long since uncontested, Cuffley now reduced to 12 men and a big lead for Hitchin, Coach Phill Ryan made changes to ensure everyone got sufficient game time. The final 15 minutes was mostly played in the Cuffley half, but no further points were scored.

Hitchin move to 9 wins from 9 league matches played. Next week's opponents Watford also had a Walkover win, and remain just 5 points behind in the Counties 3 Herts table. Next week's fixture at KGV promises to be a cracker.