Harpenden edged to a 26-20 bonus-point win at bottom side Tabard to climb up to fourth place in London Two North West.

Harps could hardly have had a better start, finding themselves two tries up after only five minutes.

Right wing Adam Stirling went over after a great break by scrum-half Adam Wilkinson. Then, after being fed by skipper Michael Goode following a powerful run, Stirling struck again two minutes later to score a superb try, breaking two tackles in the process. Aaron Wilde converted the second to take the score to 12-0.

However, Tabard had not read Harps’ script and got a try back when winger Rhys Lewis went over in the right corner and scrum-half Harry Gough added the conversion.

But Harps restored the points difference on 22 minutes, thanks to a fine effort by 17-year-old fly-half Harry Hutchins, who was making his league debut.

The Saracens Academy member and son of former club captain Willie, who was watching from the touchline, began the move with a break before offloading to centre Tom Stagg, who returned the pass to enable him to score under the posts. Wilde duly converted.

Tabard though, began to bely their league basement status with a strong fightback. In former Saracens back Gerald Arasa they possessed a potent attacking weapon, and on the stroke of half-time they reduced the arrears to 19-10 with a Jack Reilly penalty.

Harps moved further ahead again ten minutes after the break when Stirling completed his hat-trick and, in doing so, a winning bonus-point for his side. Running on to a beautifully timed inside pass from Hutchins, he touched down under the posts. Wilde again added the extras to extend the lead to 26-10.

At this point Harps really should have put the game beyond Tabard’s reach, but too often they failed to make the right decision with the ball in hand. On 58 minutes the dangerous Arasa swooped for a richly-deserved converted try, which narrowed the gap to nine points at 26-17.

Another successful Riley penalty attempt on 70 minutes gave Tabard even greater hope of snatching a win that had looked totally out of the question an hour earlier, but Harps were able to steady the ship and hold on for victory.