Letchworth produced a performance built on heart and spirit to beat closest rivals HAC at Legends Lane.

The 15-13 success kept the home side top of Regional Two Anglia with the visitors' first loss of the campaign dropping them down to fourth.

The wet and blustery conditions weren’t conducive to an open free flowing game, and the opening minutes were littered with handling errors from both sides.

A great tackle by fly half Will Titherington in the right corner prevented HAC taking an early lead but they kept the pressure on, although Letchworth continued their stubborn defence.

And the home support soon got to see an attack of their own and from a charge over the gain line, HAC infringed to allow Ben Palmer to kick the opening points of the game.

It would prove to be the only points of the first half though for Letchworth and they turned round at the interval with two unconverted tries conceded. 

Letchworth had an excellent opening to the second half though.

A lovely hanging kick at the restart by Titherington allowed them to win the ball back and from there Tom Tidey, Kyle Hughes and Luke Mongston took Letchworth up to the five-metre line.

That was stopped illegally but Letchworth opted to take the scrum and they moved it one way then the other before Vuli Sonoma Veikune burrowed his way under the defenders to score.

Palmer’s conversion, which would prove crucial, levelled the scores at 10-10.

HAC regained the lead with a long-range penalty but with the squad shuffled with changes, Letchworth put the squeeze on the visitors who were reduced to 14 with a yellow card.

One attack was repelled but Letchworth were soon on the front foot again and after another penalty, and another scrum chosen, this time it was Tom Lewis who smashed his way through.

The conversion was missed but Letchworth were back in front and looking dominant in the scrum.

HAC though finished the game strong.

A fantastic last-ditch tackle by Chris Gibbs prevented what looked a certain score and the visitors threw everything at the Legends, spending the last minutes of the game in the Letchworth red zone, most of it within five metres of the try-line.

There was to be no way through though as every Letchworth player refused to let them through.

Hitchin bounced back from a disappointing defeat at Ruislip with a resilient performance and a 20-15 home success against Welwyn.

The visitors started much the stronger, and with the wind on their backs and a stronger scrum in these early stages, they took a 10 point-lead in as many minutes.

Hitchin though began to stir and their first points came after a penalty was kicked to touch and then mauled to the line for Fred Rooney to score.

Frazer McGown finished a sweeping move in the corner to level the scores and they withstood heavy pressure with 14 men to maintain parity to half-time.

A Ben Wiggins penalty 10 minutes into the second half gave Hitchin the lead for the first time and another rolling maul brought a third try, captain Phill Ryan's effort converted.

Welwyn came roaring back and a third unconverted score for them made for a thrilling conclusion but Hitchin held on for the points.