The final game of 2023 brought jubilation for Welwyn as they stormed up to fifth in Counties One Herts Middlesex.

Baked by a good crowd full of Christmas cheer, the Hobbs Way-based rugby club roared to a 31-26 victory over a Cheshunt side who had gained a narrow win when the two sides met in week two of the season.

The boisterous crowd were silenced in the early going, however, as Cheshunt took a 7-0 lead following a textbook catch and drive from a line-out.

They continued to press after that and it took a high tackle and a penalty to get Welwyn back into the contest.

That was taken quickly by Chris Kemp and after going through a number of hands, it reached Oli Brady and he breached the whitewash.

Kemp levelled with the conversion and although play ebbed and flowed with both teams playing attractive rugby, it was Welwyn who scored the next two tries.

The home side have been blessed over the last few weeks with a strong pack and after winning a scrum and applying pressure on the Cheshunt line, skipper Josh Milton went over for an unconverted try.

The next one did come with the extras attached though.

An excellent kick by Kemp that bounced down the line and into the Cheshunt half was backed up by a wonderful kick-chase, the Welwyn men ripping the ball from the full-back and Brendon Marume racing away for the score and a 19-7 lead.

Cheshunt did ensure the contest was back to a one-score game with five points before the break, squeezing over in the corner after a line-out, and it brought about a game of chess for the opening 15 minutes of the second period as both teams tried, unsuccessfully, to find a chink in the armour.

Another high tackle, this one from Milton, gave him a seat on the sidelines for 10 minutes and with there at last being a gap on the field, Cheshunt took full advantage, scoring twice to move 26-19 in front.

But the early season frailties that plagued Welwyn have now gone and when the return to the field of the skipper was complemented by Cheshunt losing a man to a yellow card, they roared into life.

An Anton Denton try and a Kemp kick tied the scores up and Welwyn continued to push as the game reached its closing minutes.

They won a penalty inside the Cheshunt 22 and once again the Welwyn pack steamrollered through their opposite numbers, giving Milton the simple task of touching down after they had crossed the line.

The conversion was missed but Welwyn held on to head into the Christmas break full of joy.