Verulamians Under-14 team clinched the Herts & Middlesex Division Six title after a 22-17 win at second-placed Hitchin.

Their opponents started brightly and were rewarded with an early try following a quick penalty. But Vees responded promptly with Jacques Hladkyj crossing the line but he was adjudged to have been held up. From the resulting scrum, Harry Brown drove forward to score under the posts.

Lewis Casey adding the conversion to give the Vees a 7-5 lead. For the remainder of the first half, Hitchin pounded the Vees line and scored two more tries, one converted, to lead 17-7 as half-time approached.

Knowing a try before half-time would build the momentum required for a comeback, Verulamians improbably stole a try in the final play of the half, Ben Meyrick going over in the corner.

The Vees poured forward in the second half but were left frustrated until the last ten minutes of the match. Finally their pressure paid off as winger Ben Meyrick was released for the equalising try.

With just minutes to go, Alex Towle picked out Meyrick again and he raced 40m to score in the corner and clinch promotion for Verulamians.