Rearranged fixtures brought the league seasons of both Welwyn and Datchworth rugby clubs to a disappointing end.

Welwyn had been due to play at Hampstead in January before a waterlogged pitch put an end to that.

The north London side's Hampstead Heath pitch was still unplayable so both agreed to switch the figure to Hobbs Way.

However, that didn't suit a depleted Welwyn who fell to a 55-12 loss in Counties One Herts Middlesex.

Injuries have been mounting up over the past few weeks but their available pool of players had been shrunk further with some already making other plans before the rearranged date was confirmed and four of the Welwyn team needed for Herts U20s.

 

 

Three unanswered tries in the first half gave Hampstead a 19-0 lead, but worse was to come after the interval for the so-called away team as they conceded a further six scores.

However, there was a ray of sunshine among the clouds for Welwyn and with a numerical advantage due to two Hampstead players in the sin-bin, they bagged two tries of their own.

Rob Picken scored from a dominant five-metre scrum and then five minutes later the ball bounced nicely into the arms of Liam Scofield who touched down unopposed.

Also on the positive side was yet another impressive display from Brendon Marume in the centres while Joe Burns got on in the second period for his 150th first-team appearance.

And he marked it in entertaining fashion, delighting the crowd with an excellent kick to touch from his own 22, a skill which had been conspicuous by its absence during his previous 149 matches.

Datchworth meanwhile fell to a 36-7 loss at home to Finchley, a result which moves the visitors above Welwyn into seventh.