HARPENDEN disposed of another of their championship rivals on Saturday, beating Old Millhillians 25-11, thanks to a breath-taking opening 20 minute burst which kept their 100 per cent league record firmly intact.

Two quick tries set them on their way with scrum half Rob Humphrey opened the scoring after just six minutes.

With the pack driving forward superbly, Harps went further ahead five minutes later when wing Simon Smith rounded off a flowing attack with a try in the left corner.

Fly half Pete Stevenson, in his first game back after a lengthy absence, increased the lead on 18 minutes with a well struck penalty.

Old Millhillians slowly started to regroup as Harps' grip on the game eased and on half an hour they gave themselves a glimmer of hope with a penalty goal.

But five minutes flanker Andy MacPherson raced through unchallenged for a try under the posts after taking a quick tapped penalty.

Old Millhillians, boosted by England A player Peter Mensah coming on as a replacement as part of his comeback process, deservedly got a try on 70 minutes after a good move by the backs.

But it was too little too late and Stevenson gave Harps another three points with another penalty goal with the final kick of the game.

Fly-half Nick Churchman signified his full recovery from injury on Saturday with a tremendous solo try as Tabard beat a strong Plymouth Albion 36-22.

Churchman's try came at the beginning of the second half.

From a Tabard scrum the Plymouth defence was up so quick that Churchman was left with the only option of running, reaching the line and converting.

Tabard had signalled their intentions right from the initial kick off, going 14 points clear inside the first five minutes of the game.

The first try, after three minutes, came from centre Doug Morete when his perfect line of running took him through after Churchman had run open.

The second came two minutes later when full back Andy Dudley touched down after a break down the right wing from Andy Williams.

Although Plymouth pulled three points back with a penalty Churchman converted one for Tabard and on the stroke of half time Tabard scored another try, this time winger Williams went over himself after the ball was run wide from a ruck.

Churchman added the conversion and the teams turned round with Tabard 24-3 ahead.

After Churchman's great effort the Plymouth flanker scored after a short penalty in which there seemed to be lots of illegal crossing and then Tabard responded. Following two mighty drives by prop Danny Warner and hooker Mark Sharp, the ball was recycled and centre Andy Elliott was able to slip through two tackles to score.

At this stage the Tabard machine seemed to falter slightly and Plymouth attacked hard to comeback with two late tries from their second row and winger to complete the scoring but the result was never in doubt.

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