Regent’s Park the home of Belsize Park RFC is one of the more unique venues in English rugby, sandwiched in central London between St Johns Wood, Camden and Marylebone.

Whilst the passing tourists may have been making their way to see the giraffes and rhinos at London Zoo, it would have been worth their while to stop by the rugby fields to see the lesser spotted purple cockerels put on a show in the last quarter, to pull off a bonus point victory.

Harpenden put themselves into an early lead with a converted try from Adam Wilkinson who pinballed off a number of would-be tacklers before crossing the line. As the half progressed the away side were very much in the ascendancy a tremendous move was finished off by Sims. Belsize kept in touch with a try of their own, but a further score from Barber and a penalty from Sweeney made it 7-24 to the visitors.

The home side began to find some rhythm and scored to put themselves within two scores, at the break.

Despite an early try from Gulliford, the momentum began to swing back in favour of the Londoners and two tries in quick succession made the score 26-31 as the game moved into the final quarter.

From there on Harpenden dug their heels in and were clinical in attack with three converted tries that put the game beyond any doubt. Scores from McLoughlin, Simcott and Tait gave a handsome final scoreline and all 5 points to the visitors.

The victory leaves Harps 5th in the table with a weekend off before they take on Chingford at home on 27th November.

Harpenden: McLoughlin, Sims, McKenzie-Cardy, Tominey, Lacey, Charlier, Speirs, Preston, Guilliford, Mann, Barber, McClean, Wilkinson, Tait, Sweeney. Reps: Neilson, Murphy, Simcott