Welwyn are finding out first hand just what a difficult division they are in this season - after losing away to Ealing Trailfinders 1871.

The west London side won 56-14 in Counties One Herts Middlesex, handing the Hobbs Way-based rugby club a third loss in four games.

In contrast this was a third win for Ealing, one of five clubs to have won at least three of their opening matches.

Welwyn have now faced two of those sides, giving them a good flavour of the tests ahead.

Head coach Gareth Hughes said: "The league this year is already proving to be significantly tougher than last season but despite missing a few players, the lads stuck to their task well against a very good Ealing side."

The hosts showed that organisation and talent through most of the contest, which began 10 minutes late after a dreadful journey down by Welwyn.

Unsurprisingly perhaps, given the preparation, Welwyn were slow out of the blocks and within 13 minutes, Ealing had scored three tries to take a 15-0 lead.

The visitors did get into their stride though and responded with a well-worked try by skipper Josh Milton.

He was forced to start the game playing in the centre due to unavailability but he showed a keen rugby brain to hit a great line and sprint through to score under the posts.

Jake Riley converted and Welwyn had narrowed the gap to 15-7.

However, this only served to spur Ealing on and three further tries put them almost out of sight as the teams changed ends at half-time.

The 34-7 advantage had been helped by Welwyn indiscipline, Tommy Laing and AB Makoni both in the bin for deliberate knock-ons, but strong words by Hughes during the break saw the away side begin far more positively.

And after 15 minutes of the second period, Laing redeemed himself slightly by racing over to score, Riley again adding the extras.

The hope was they could at least pick up a bonus point for four tries but it turned out to be their final score.

That wasn't the case for Ealing who added three more tries to cruise to victory.

Welwyn now have a week off to give their injured players time to recover, returning to action at home on Saturday, October 12, with a game against Chiswick.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

Datchworth meanwhile are still searching for their first win after a 34-14 defeat away to Fullerians.