Welwyn found out the hard way just how good Hitchin's form is at the minute as they slumped to defeat - but there was better news for the club's women.

The Hobbs Way-based rugby club's men hosted their near neighbours in a a Counties One Herts Middlesex contest and ended up on the end of a 41-10 reverse.

It was the third win a row for the visiting Hedgehogs, who have scored between 40 and 50 points in each of the three successes while earning a final margin in excess of 30.

Dave Wells and Josh Dickens got the tries as Welwyn remain sixth but are now 11 adrift of Hitchin in fifth and with Ruislip just three points behind them.

However, the league table makes much better reading for the women who remain top of Women's National Conference Two South East (North) after a 28-14 success away to Epping Upper Clapton.

They travelled with four U18s as well as a debutant on the wing in Sarah but they soon had the hosts under pressure.

However, Epping's defence refused to be breached and after forcing a turnover, they raced up the field to grab the opening try.

But Welwyn's response was swift and strong carrying from the resulting kick off worked them up the park before Abbie Picking found a gap and ran in from 30 metres, skipper Emma Waddup tying the game up.

The captain would kick another conversion not long after as Welwyn took the lead.

A ball was kicked through but as Ruth Morgan went to get it, she was tackled first.

The forwards had a few bashes to go over the line before it was spun wide for Hannah Emery to score.

Having been dominant in possession again from the next kick-off ,Welwyn created another opening which Daisy Parker made no mistake from.

A last-ditch tackle held Macy Stevens up after she crossed the line and it proved crucial as instead of going in at the break leading by four tries to one, Epping moved the ball wide from close to the Welwyn line and left it 21-14 at the interval.

The second half may not have troubled the scoreboard much but it was no less of a scrap.

A couple of drives went close but in the end just the one score came, Stevens finally getting her score from short range.

It was once again converted to leave Welwyn 14 points clear at the final whistle.

Welwyn are now six points clear of their hosts after 10 wins from 10.

They go to Harpenden on Sunday.