Hitchin will turn their attention to cup rugby after finishing their league season with a scrappy win at Hackney.

The 19-17 success on Hackney Marshes means the Hedgehogs finish the Counties One Herts Middlesex campaign in fifth.

Next up is a home game against Epping Upper Clapton on Saturday in the RFU's new Community Cup before they head to Cheshunt on Thursday, April 6, for the Herts President's Tankard final against divisional champions Hemel Hempstead. 

Hitchin kicked off into a stiff breeze in east London and an early penalty set the stage for the opening score, Fred Rooney scooping up a ball that bounced backwards to scoot over.

That proved a bit of a false dawn for the visitors as Hackney bagged three tries before half-time, the first from an interception, the second after exploiting a mismatch on the blindside and the last one a rolling maul from a line-out.

A yellow card to Hackney early in the second period though proved the catalyst for Hitchin's revival.

Simon Taylor stripped the ball and three offloads took Hitchin deep into opposition 22.

Ian Crompton and James Bolter combined with the latter popping the ball up to Rooney to score his second.

With 10 minutes to play, Hitchin scored the winning try in style.

Taylor found Will Rooney on the loop and good hands from Crompton, Jack Galer and Phil Ryan allowed Harry Dowrick to step inside and race over under the posts.