The winter sun had done its work on defrosting the pitch Crescent Farm with both sides eager to continue their unbeaten starts to 2023 and avoid any fixture congestion towards the end of the season.

Harpenden made one change from the side that put away league leader Westcombe Park the previous weekend, with captain George Attfield returning to the back row.

The game that unfolded was by no means a classic, but there was enough excitement to keep the the travelling supporters warm on very cold afternoon.

The two sides traded early penalties to put the score at 6-6 with 15 minutes gone. Sidcup being closer to an early try after being held up over the line.

It was Harps however who secured the first five pointer after some patient, well structured build up play. Mann found Sweeney on the right touch line with a perfectly judged cross field kick, who then took the ball under the posts for the score.

Following the conversion from Sweeney, all thirteen points on the scoresheet for the visitors were thanks had his name against them.

Both sides attempted to test each other with a mix of ball in hand and kicking but neither with any great successes. Sidcup did narrow however the lead with a further penalty to get within five points.

As half time approached Harps moved with purpose into the Sidcup half with some strong carries from Campion, Eke and Funaki. As the line beckoned it was Funaki who eventually crashed over from short range. With Sweeney off injured, Johnson added the extras to the bring the score to 9-20 at the break.

The second period, like the first, was without a try for twenty minutes. With both defences standing up to the test. The visitors were able to break the deadlock when Mahmood swapped scrummaging for scoring after latching on to the back of a maul.

Whilst Harps did have a comfortable lead, the growing gap seemed to galvanise Sidcup, who threw caution to the wind, which was eventually rewarded with a well worked try.

With eight minutes remaining the home crowd sensed their may be a sniff of at least a losing bonus point. This sniff was quickly snuffed, after a neat move at the front of the line out put Speirs over for the bonus point try. Johnson’s conversion completed a 100% record for the kickers and a 14-34 win for Harpenden, who returned to Hertfordshire with five points in the bag.

Sudbury travel to Redbourn Lane on Saturday in a 6th vs 7th match up, kick off at 3pm.

Harpenden:
Mahmood, Sims, Campion, Lacey, Eke, Funaki, Attfield, Speirs, Mitchelmore, Mann, Wilkinson, Johnson, McClean, Sweeney, Boynes
Reps: McKenzie-Cardy, Osborn, Shaw