Great expectations at Welwyn were left unfulfilled with defeat at home to Cheshunt.

The Hobbs Way rugby club had beaten their Hertfordshire rivals last season and hopes were high for a repeat.

But instead, they crumbled away with a 51-21 loss in Counties One Herts Middlesex.

The game ebbed and flowed for the fist quarter until a penalty against Welwyn for offside was kicked to the corner.

The line-out was duly caught and driven over the line to give Cheshunt the first seven points.

Another offside brought converted try number two, Cheshunt taking it quick and crashing over, and the third was from the same source too, and a repeat of the first.

It wasn't all one-way traffic in the half though.

One promising attacking ended with Welwyn losing the ball near the Cheshunt line while a second foray forward was ended by a tip tackle and a yellow card for Cheshunt.

The man advantage proved crucial and brought the only score of the half for the hosts, recycling the ball and sending Maciu Selanabuka in at the corner with Jake Riley doing well to land the kick.

Cheshunt kicked a penalty early in the second half with Welwyn penalised for not releasing and after a period of middle of the park stalemate, Cheshunt put a speculative chip forward that they retrieved for seven more points.

Three more points came before Welwyn struck again, even if it was a very good try.

Starting from inside their own 22, Vetaia Kawea made an excellent break and fed Selanabuka who got Welwyn up into visitors' 22.

The Welwyn forwards then took over and sent the ball across the line, once more converted to make it 34-14.

A third try came after Cheshunt had scored again.

A knock-on in front of the posts gave Welwyn a scrum and from the promising position, they created space for Selanabuka to score his second in spectacular fashion.

Riley again managed to convert and with time to play a four try bonus point was in sight.

However, the only two scores to come were both for the away side, taking them over the 50-mark and to a comfortable win.

Welwyn are now eighth in the league and travel to Ealing Trailfinders 1871 next, the side two places above them.

Datchworth fell to a 38-21 loss at home to Hitchin, Alex Lloyd-Williams getting two tries and Ollie Barnes one with Murray Bond kicking all three conversions.