Hitchin romped to a big home win over Enfield Ignatians in a league match played on a Thursday evening.

The game had been moved under the floodlights at Old Hale Way at the request of the visitors as it helped their availability issues.

Ultimately though, the result was a one-sided affair as the Hedgehogs ran out 78-7 winners to move fifth in Counties One Herts Middlesex.

Hitchin started fast with a try from an attacking scrum.

The ball was worked through the hands and Elliot Gibson was on his way to score when a high tackle stopped him, making the penalty try award a foregone conclusion.

The hosts conceded a high tackle penalty of their own but Ignatians missed the shot at goal from 30 metres out.

A good carry through contact from Ben Wiggins brought the second try, Simon Taylor spinning out of contact to score, a chip forward from James Bolter saw winger Phil Ryan react quickest and dive over in the corner.

Ryan secured the bonus point try too, receiving the ball 30 metres out and fending off the covering tackle to touch down on the left edge.

Try number five came courtesy of a flat pass from Wiggins to Jaden Elley-Murphy who dummied his way under the sticks and the centre then completed his hat-trick and Hitchin's sixth and seventh.

The only negative of the half was a converted score late on from Enfield but Hitchin were still totally in charge with a 43-7 lead after 40 minutes.

Nothing changed after the break either.

A sin-bin for preventing quick ball almost gave the home side carte blanche to run riot.

A penalty from a five-metre scrum was taken quickly with Bolter scoring and he then grabbed his second after Harry Chater had gone close.

Even when Enfield got back to 15, the one-way traffic continued.

Greg Ranson brought double figures up on the try count as he waltzed round the opposition defence and Elly-Murphy and Dan Wiggins combined to give Chater a deserved score.

Enfield did stem the tide late on but there was still one final try to come, scored by Jon Welsford.

It is back to Saturday fixtures next when they go to Welwyn.

Their second team did play on Saturday this week, narrowly beaten 14-12 at home to Old Grammarians.

Stevenage Town picked up their first win back in Counties Three Herts Middlesex with a 17-15 success away to Actonians.