Harlequins Amateurs 8 Hackney 55

Free-scoring Hackney stormed to the top of Herts/Middlesex 1 as they maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the league season.

Following on from hitting triple figures last weekend the Griffins were in imperious form once more, scoring eight tries for victory.

The first try came on 10 minutes when Charlie Davis touched down in the corner, following 20 phases of sustained possession.

Hackney did not have to wait long to add to their tally. Alex O’Hara drew in two defenders and offloaded to man of the match James Dawson in space, who marked his final appearance for the club with a try.

The visitors ended the first half in total control when full-back Chris Carroll set up Ben Jones for an unconventional third score.

In the second half, Hackney, playing downhill and against tired legs, switched to a more open style of rugby.

Jones promptly scored his second of the game and the try of the match.

A pacey move, following a line-out, culminated with the hooker making a 20-yard dart on the blindside and crossing the line to seal the bonus point for try number four – with only 45 minutes on the watch.

The outcome was assured, but ruthless Hackney refused to take their foot off the gas.

Ben Chamberlain gathered a loose ball and fed Ben Weller who burst through the middle, charged past the Quinns full-back and touched down underneath the posts.

The home side finally got on the scoreboard, with tries either side of Arif Saad’s stint in the sin bin.

But their momentum was halted when a quick-fire double from Davis cemented his hat-trick and saw Hackney reach the 50-points mark.

There was still time though, for Saad to score his fifth try of the season when he coolly side-stepped three tackles and went over between the posts.