Tring...21 Harpenden...37

HARPENDEN fought back from being behind to chalk up another convincing win and surge to the top of London North West League Division Three.

With Hertford, their closest rivals, going down to a shock one-point defeat against Letchworth, they have a wonderful chance to put an iron grip on the title when they entertain Hertford at Redbourn Lane this Saturday for what will be the match of the season.

Harps had a torrid start against Tring as their fired up hosts, aided by some controversial refereeing decisions, swept into an 8-0 lead inside the first ten minutes.

But they refused to be panicked and gradually edged their way back into the game. On 18 minutes they clawed back five points when impressive prop Brian King, returning to his former club for the first time, was driven over the line for a try after a great catch in the line out by giant lock Dave Foster.

Two minutes later they took the lead when man of the match flanker Andy MacPherson charged down a clearance and was first to pounce on the ball for a fine opportunist try.

Tring temporarily regained the lead four minutes later with a penalty goal, but fly half Pete Stevenson kicked two penalties in five minutes to send Harps into half-time 16-11 ahead.

Harps kept up the momentum after the break and on 53 minutes scrum half Rob Humphreys maintained his impressive sequence of scoring in every league game when he blasted over for a sweet try in the left hand corner.

Wing Simon Smith added Harps' fourth try on 59 minutes after good movement by the backs and ten minutes later Harps were awarded a penalty try after a Tring player dived into the scrum as Harps were about to score a pushover try.

But with the game won, Harps then eased off the accelerator and Tring came back strongly to score two consolation tries in the final ten minutes.

Coach Danny James, in expressing satisfaction at Harps' overall performance, said: "We are still not making good decisions in vital areas which would mean us winning games by 60 points instead of 15 or 20.

"All our thoughts are now turned to the Hertford match.

"We know it will be a tough game but we are confident that we will come out on top."

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