Hitchin 41-10 Hampstead
7th placed Hitchin hosted bottom of the table Hampstead, who were looking to pick up their first win of the season.
The Hedgehogs earned a penalty in front of the sticks after 2 minutes, which Fly Half Ben Wiggins converted into 3 points with a kick at goal from 20 metres out.
Hampstead threatened for the next 5 minutes, but a crucial turnover was made within inches of the line, allowing Ben Wiggins to clear.
The visitors continued to dominate territory, but were unable to score, missing a fairly straightforward penalty kick at goal after 20 minutes.
The first try of the match came after 30 minutes. Ben Wiggins kicked a penalty to touch 5 metres out, and a well constructed rolling maul powered over the line, 18 year old Hooker Ewan Rawlings scoring his first 1XV try. The conversion struck a post and Hitchin took an 8-0 lead.
Hampstead responded 3 minutes later as the left Wing chipped over the defence and won the chase to touch down.
Hitchin set up a 5 metre lineout, but knocked on to concede a scrum. The pack, which had conceded a penalty earlier in the half, this time earned a penalty, and a quick tap from Flanker Ruiri Shanahan saw him surge over the line. Halftime score Hitchin 13-5 Hampstead.
After a scrappy start to the second half, Shanahan provided a moment of individual brilliance. Picking from the base of a ruck at the halfway line, he spotted a gap and lofted the ball over the defence, collected his kick and bounced off two covering tackles to score under the posts.
The bonus point fourth try came after 50 minutes. Outside Centre Jaden Elley-Murphy made good yards on the right edge before being brought down 30 metres out. Ben Wiggins and Inside Centre Simon Taylor spread play to the left, and Elley-Murphy found Full Back Will Evans with an inside pass. Evans drew his defender and found Captain James Bolter, who powered through two cover tackles to cross the whitewash.
Hampstead received a yellow card soon after, and Ben Wiggins kicked to a 5 metre Hitchin lineout. The first lineout misfired, but a subsequent lineout from the clearance kick went to a maul, and with forward momentum Bolter broke free to score his second try.
Hitchin scored their final try of the match from a lineout. With the initial maul repelled, Ben Wiggins lifted a pass to Winger Jack Maydom on a tight line to run through unopposed to score under the posts.
Hampstead scored their second try with the final play of the game, sustaining possession for 10 phases to score in the right corner. Final score Hitchin 41-10 Hampstead.
Hitchin remain in 7th place in Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex, and visit 6th placed Ruislip on Saturday 18th November.
The 2XV led early on against Mill Hill, before eventually running out of steam in the second half, succumbing to a 33-15 defeat. Man of the Match Oscar Norton-Taylor scored two tries on the Right Wing, and Left Winger James Young also got on the scoresheet. Next Saturday the 2XV travel to Bishops Stortford for another Merit Table fixture.
Team Jonny Robertson, Ewan Rawlings, James Bolter, Chris Mills, Jonathan Welsford, Gary Ayres, Ruiri Shanahan, Frazer McGown, Daniel Wiggins, Benjamin Wiggins, Elliot Gibson, Simon Taylor, Jaden Elley-Murphy, Greg Ranson, Will Evans
Subs Thomas Brown, Jack Maydom, Gavin McLeod, Ian Crompton
Scores 
The league: Counties 1 Herts/Middx