Datchworth 17 Haringey Rhinos 45

Robert Chizea scored a hat-trick and Lawrence Shaw also touched down twice as Haringey’s Under-14s scored seven tries at Datchworth.

The Rhinos had 15 players and a reserve for the first time, and made the most of their strong turn-out to run out comprehensive winners.

Datchworth scored first, turning the ball over in the visitors’ 22 and crossing the line – but that only served to awaken the Rhinos, who were led by captain Adam Caravuli-Pringle.

Haringey won possession at a line-out and Bradley Clarke-Wright and Nathanael Mergia made rapid progress up the field before Chizea picked the ball up from the base of a ruck and ran past four would-be tacklers to touch down.

Clarke-Wright then scored himself, taking a quick penalty and breaking through eight tackles to reach the line.

Mergia made the conversion and, when Datchworth kicked the ball back to the Rhinos from the restart, Cyrion returned it with interest, sprinting down the blind side to add another converted try.

The hosts showed flashes of their best form but the Rhinos snuffed out their attacks, and Shaw left everyone for dead to extend Haringey’s lead, with Tony Bonner this time adding the extras.

Datchworth rallied to score, but their effort was quickly cancelled out by Chizea, who touched down for a second time after good rucking from the forwards.

The half-time whistle came with the Rhinos 31-12 ahead and, although they frustratingly conceded another score from the kick-off, that was the last time the hosts crossed their line.

Haringey were buoyed by strong runs from their forwards – particularly Ethan Hall, who has grown in confidence and started to show his best qualities despite playing up an age group.

Chizea completed his treble and Shaw scored for a second time as the Rhinos coasted towards victory – but the game became scrappy and the Rhinos conceded a series of penalties, which could have proved costly on another day.

As it was, there was to be no late comeback from Datchworth and Haringey emerged victorious as they look ahead to a host of league fixtures which will keep them busy until the end of the season.