Welwyn got off to a good start in the new rugby union season - beating Fullerians at home.

Their Counties One Herts Middlesex division promises to be a very tough league and the 27-17 victory did little to decrease those expectations.

The visitors started the strongest but Welwyn's defence stood firm.

And when Jake Riley and Vetaia Kawea produced superb back-to-back tackles, it allowed Joe Nasaucoko to make a break out of their own 22, eventually leading to Kai Wells getting the first score.

The conversion was missed but the ball was soon back in Welwyn hands and in a dangerous position, one Nasaucoko took full advantage of to score in the corner.

Again the conversion was missed and soon the momentum swung back towards Fullers.

Welwyn had been dominant almost all of last season in scrums but here they found a worthy and larger foe.

And Fullerians used their attacking weapon, rumbling through the middle of the pitch to score under the posts.

And then, while Welwyn were down to 14 men for a high Nasaucoko tackle, they went under the sticks again to take a 14-10 lead into the break.

The first 10 minutes of the second half saw the teams trade attacking blows but the status quo was broken when Fullarians' dominant scrum won a penalty in kicking range, slotted for a 17-10 lead.

That though would be the last time the Watford side would get a score with Welwyn showing real strength in their open play.

Kawea managed to break through the Fullers defence and passed the ball to debutant Maciu Selanabuka, who showed great speed as he stepped across the pitch, eventually passing to Wells to go over for his second try.

Another conversion missed meant that Welwyn still trailed but their confidence in open play was obvious and with captain Josh Milton leading the charge they made another break.

Again, Kawea manged to break though and feed the ball to Selanabuka who used his pace to go round the Fullers defence and score in the corner.

That gave Welwyn the try bonus point and the lead and they set about securing the contest for good.

And with only a few minutes to go, Milton picked up from an attacking scrum in the Fullers 22, before working it along the line for Nasaucoko to score in the corner for his second try.

Riley landed the conversion to take the losing bonus point away from the away side.

The club is always looking for new members and runs two men’s sides a women’s team, as as mini and junior rugby, mixed ability and walking rugby.

Go to the club website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/welwynrfc to join in.

Training for men is on Tuesday and Thursday evening and for Women on Wednesday evening.