Watford Seconds were unable to extend their excellent recent run of form as they lost 19-12 at Letchworth on Saturday.

Both sides tried in vain to gain the upper hand early on and it was Watford who achieved this; a well-executed line-out move in Letchworth’s 22 allowing Adam Hancock to score his first Watford try, with Sean Silver converting.

Letchworth’s number ten then scored a converted try to tie the score up at 7-7.

And after a Watford rally, the hosts struck on the counter attack and scored under the posts to make it 14-7.

Another breakaway try for Letchworth extended their advantage to 19-7, but Watford got scant reward from a game they largely dominated when Peter Cox found Jon Portway to score out wide for the final score of the match.

Skipper George Hicks said: “It was disappointing to lose such a close game and the lads should hold their heads up high after that.

“They didn’t give in, they stuck at it and showed their passion for the shirt.”

The first XV remain level with Hillingdon at the summit of the Herts-Middlesex Merit Table Two after opponents Quintin conceded their fixture on Saturday.