Old Haberdashers 21 Haringey Rhinos 0

HARINGEY were boosted by the return of captain Dom Gains on Saturday, but the skipper was unable to save his side from their second defeat in a row.

Last week’s 18-12 home defeat against Cheshunt was far from the ideal preparation as the Rhinos travelled to take on the league leaders Old Haberdashers in Borehamwood.

And, having been plagued by injuries, Rubert Jonker’s side failed to score a point as they went down to their seventh defeat of the season.

Haberdashers took the lead with a driving maul from a penalty kick and a line-out. And, although the conversion was missed, Haringey’s frustration and indiscipline handed the hosts another kick at goal and an 8-0 lead.

Rhinos’ best chance came from a scrum just outside the home side’s 22, and quick hands by Shaun Huiskamp and player-coach Rubert Jonker put Tom Vass in space, only for the ball to be knocked on.

Haringey found themselves on the back foot after the interval and, despite bravely repelling around 20 phases of play, tiredness set in and provided Haberdashers with an overlap and another unconvered try.

A penalty kick made it 16-0 and, although Rhinos kept their heads high, a further unconverted try in the corner rounded off a comfortable victory for the league’s pacesetters. Haringey host fifth-placed Barnet Elizabethans on Saturday.

Haringey Rhinos: Howson, Wood, Cordy, Hawkes, Handley, Jakens, Evans, Gains, Huiskamp, Murphy, Vass, Jonker, Jones, McDevitt, Wollaston, Sweetlove, Hutchins, Owusu.