Hendon RFC went down 16-6 to London Welsh Amateurs in Herts/Middx Division One on Saturday.

However, the scoreline does not reflect a game that Hendon dominated for long periods.

Hendon, from the start, camped inside the Welsh 22, with forwards Terry Gilbride and Aiden Doyle both denied tries on the line in the first ten minutes.

The visitors' front row outplayed the Welsh, with hooker Joel Curry taking six strikes against the head.

As Hendon were pushing forward, an interception by the Welsh winger saw him run the pitch to score in the corner.

Within a minute, Hendon were awarded a penalty which Lee Linale slotted over from 45 metres out, though the Welsh hit back with a penalty of their own just before half-time.

In the second half, Hendon's player/coach Dave Maskell was soon into the action, repossessing several times from Welsh mauls, with Brian O'Regan and Cosy Mutuma on hand to take the ball into the Welsh half.

An interception by centre Alex Whittaker was stopped short by the Welsh defence who conceded a penalty, but the attempt went wide.

Midway through the second half, a breakout from defence by Welsh left Hendon flat-footed and the hosts scored in the corner.

The Welsh defence then held out as both teams were awarded penalties in the last ten minutes.

Welsh remain second in the table, with Hendon in ninth position.

Hendon are away to Verulamians this Saturday.