Herts/Middlesex Four Hatfield Queen Elizabeth RFC 15 Great Western Railway RFC 11 UNBEATEN Hatfield kept their winning run going with a hard-fought victory at Roe Hill Hall on Saturday. Hatfield Queen Elizabeth maintained their 100 per cent league record

Herts/Middlesex Four

Hatfield Queen Elizabeth RFC 15

Great Western Railway RFC 11

UNBEATEN Hatfield kept their winning run going with a hard-fought victory at Roe Hill Hall on Saturday.

Hatfield Queen Elizabeth maintained their 100 per cent league record with a 15-11 win over Great Western Railway.

More than 40 spectators turned up to watch the Hatfield team on a cold and clear afternoon.

GWR, who had only 14 men, came out of the blocks the quickest and pressured Hatfield throughout the 80 minutes.

And it was only because of some great defence from the whole Hatfield team that stopped them in their tracks.

Hatfield managed to work some phases together for outside centre Owen Doyle to break through several tackles and touch down under the posts to break the deadlock.

This just inspired the visitors from Ealing to put more pressure on and they camped inside Hatfield's half for most of the first 40 minutes.

The GWR team kept infringing by playing the ball on the floor and killing it off, but the referee was oblivious to this and kept punishing Hatfield's players for not rolling away.

GWR decided to run most of their penalties but the Hatfield defence was unbreakable and just before half-time the Middlesex club kicked for the points, making it 7-3 at the break.

Hatfield kicked off for the second half but the punt didn't go the required distance and the teams had to scrum down.

The hosts won the set-piece and recycled the ball well and made some great ground with strong rucking and mauling.

After some enforced pressure, Hatfield lock Damien Poulter barged his way over the line.

GWR once again fought back and pushed the HQE backs into their own 22.

Hatfield absorbed the pressure but could not put together any of the plays and phases that they usually have the free run of.

The Railway team won a lineout close to the Hatfield line and managed to steam over for a try.

Panic started to set in with Hatfield and they again stopped playing to their full ability.

With more dominance from GWR and bad decisions being given by the referee, the away team managed to put the ball over the posts.

With only 15 minutes to go, Hatfield settled down again and started to play to their strengths, with the forwards and backs linking up well to put the pressure on GWR.

The visitors failed to roll away after a tackle, giving Owen Doyle the chance to add to the lead, which he duly did.

Soon after Hatfield were under pressure again and a lineout was awarded to GWR five metres from the line but the home defence once again held strong.

Thanks to some great talking from Toby Garrett and Russell Doyle, they managed to get the ball out of the area.

When the final whistle went Hatfield were pleased to win but knew that they had come close to losing for the first time this season.

Captain George Stone was riled up after the game.

He said: "We need people down at training. It was a tough game and a close game the opposition came to win but we held tough.