Hitchin travelled inside the M25 to face fourth placed Watford, who played their part in a tight encounter between the two sides in December.

The Hedgehogs, knowing that a win would see them crowned league champions, took the lead inside two minutes. Number 8 Joe Burton received the ball in front of a static defence, and ran through two defenders untouched to score under the posts.

Second Row Jon Welsford broke free, but his pass missed the target and the opportunity was lost. Scrum Half Harry T passed when he could have scored, and Watford managed to recover. Their quick Winger nearly broke free, but an excellent covering tackle Flanker Joe Southwell put him into touch.

After an extended period of tryline pressure, Hynes demanded ball on the blindside, and drew his defender before putting in Winger and fellow Irishman Paul Ledwith in to score in the left corner.

With Hitchin in the attacking 22, Harry went one way and then the other, spinning a beautiful 20 metre pass off his left hand to Winger Callum Dockerill, at full pace and he fended his opposite number to score Hitchin's third try.

A penalty was awarded 25 metres out, and Hynes went quick, passing to Centre Dan Barnes to set up the play. Burton picked and went from the ruck, and nobody could stop him from reaching over the try line.

With the bonus point in the bag, Hitchin played with more pragmatism as Hynes pinned the corners with heavy kicks. Barnes stole possession and Hitchin won a scrum less than 10 metres from the tryline, but Watford won against the head. Hitchin would not let Watford escape and, just as the numbers were lining up inside, Welsford spotted his chance and powered through the middle to touch down.

Hynes exited with a huge wind assisted kick, which was fielded but the subsequent pass was knocked on. Centre Jack Galer collected, drew his man and passed to Winger Oli Newbury, who ran in the try unopposed from 30 metres.

Burton pilfered the ball at the ruck as Watford looked poised to score, and Hitchin saw out the half with a 0-40 lead.

Burton charged down the field and offloaded to Galer who was dragged down just short of the line. Burton collected from the ruck and punched through the fringe defence and scored his third try.

Harry T received an offload from another Burton break, which put Hitchin back in Watford territory. Newbury was denied a second after the referee spotted a knock on.

Harry T made a superb defensive effort to prevent a certain Watford try. Into the final quarter, and it took a substitute to inject some life back into the match.

Flanker Dan Baverstock stood at first receiver and fended his way through three would be tacklers to score a fantastic solo try from 40 metres out.

Burton, clearly discontent with his try tally, took ownership of another ruck and ran through the non-existent defence to score Hitchin's ninth try, still with 10 minutes to play.

Watford were quite limited in their play, unable to retain possession for more than a couple of phases, but they put in a gallant final 10 minutes, and got the reward their play deserved. Evasive running took them into the Hitchin 22, and four passes took them across the width of the pitch to put their Right Winger in for the try.

With the hail returning and bodies strewn across the pitch, the referee wisely blew the final whistle.

Hitchin 2XV win the inaugural Counties 3 Herts title with a game to spare, and finish off their league campaign on Saturday 18th April at home against local rivals Stevenage Town. We finish off the season with the Final of the Herts President's Trophy, against Cheshunt on the AGP at Harpenden on Saturday 15th May, kicking off at 19:45.