Hendon made heavy weather of this league encounter up to the interval but got up to speed in the second half.

Lee Linale put the home side ahead after 12 minutes with a penalty as Hendon's pack pushed upfield.

But Priorians quickly responded as Hendon were offside and the penalty put them level.

No8 for Hendon, Cosy Mutuma, picked up a turnover ball to Hendon on the halfway and charged through to be held up short.

However, Priorians were penalised and Linale converted.

As Hendon defended in the last minutes of the half, a scrum on the Hendon 22 was poorly defended and Priorians' winger touched down in the corner.

Into the second half, it was Priorians on the attack uphill, with Hendon holding on in defence.

After 10 minutes, Hendon's forwards pushed downfield with again Mutuma collecting and, with an inside offload to winger JP Cremin, the latter touched down for Linale to convert.

Hendon now gained the advantage as Hendons' backs, especially Blake and Whittaker, broke through.

Another penalty to Hendon from Linale's boot took them into a 16-8 lead.

Second row replacement Dave Maskell, in his first play of the match, from a Hendon penalty lineout, drove over to score.

As Hendon's foot came off the peddle, Priorians were in the Hendon 22 and crossed the line but were held up. Mutuma on 30 minutes was again stopped short and Priorians were penalised, Linale converting to make it 24-8.

With five minutes remaining, Hendon were on the attack with a blindside move finished off by replacement winger McManus.

To their credit, Priorians battled on to get a consolation try in the last minute.

This Saturday Hendon play away at Verulamians in their next league encounter.