Harpenden recorded their most convincing victory of the season on Saturday against second bottom side Leighton Buzzard scoring seven tries in the process.

Energy levels were high following the rest week and Harps' tails were up from the off despite playing up the significant gradient of the Wright’s Meadow pitch in the first period. They raced into a 14-0 lead through tries from Pennell and Wilkinson and a pair of conversions from Sweeney.

Leighton Buzzard did begin to fight back and halved the deficit through a cute set move from the front of a five metre line out. However, the away side were in no mood to make the game a close affair and quickly replied with an impeccably timed and unstoppable charge from Nkwocha from 8 metres out.

After soaking up another wave of pressure, which was relieved after a goal line turnover from veteran prop McLoughlin, Harpenden were able to work their way up the pitch and Tom Sweeney characteristically glided over the line for the bonus point try and then added the extras to give the visitors a handsome 28-7 half time lead.

As the men in black turned to go down the slope in the second half there was a little more tendency to put boot to ball for Harpenden. However, keeping the ball in hand was proving to be just as lucrative, this led to an early try for Ollie Mann after combining with half back partner Gulliford.

The Buzzards got themselves on the scoresheet again however this was quickly cancelled out by a short range effort from Bloisi. As fatigue crept in on both sides there was plenty of space to play but not a great deal to trouble the scorers until the final few minutes of the game.

Will Hague-Blundy playing his first game of the season after completing the London Marathon rounded off an excellent Harpenden move which started in their own 22. Yet even at 47-12 Leighton Buzzard showed some significant heart and character to score a third try of their own to bring the curtain down on an entertaining affair.

London 1 North had a significant shape up following Saturday’s results with all three previously unbeaten sides failing to record wins. Harpenden move up to 5th place and welcome 4th place Colchester to Redbourn Lane on Saturday.

Harpenden: McLoughlin, Bloisi, Campion, Lacey, Pearce-Paul, Charlie, Attfield, Gue, Gulliford, Mann, Barber, Wilkinson, Speirs, Pennell, Sweeney
Reps: Warren, Nkwocha, Hague-Blundy