Belsize Park were held to a 15-15 draw by HAC in London Division Two North-West, leaving the two sides fourth and third in the fledgling table respectively.

The Honourable Artillery Company side went ahead with a converted try but Belsize hit back in kind as winger James Russ crossed the line, with full-back Jeremy Burton adding the extras and tying the scores at 7-7.

The second period continued in a similar vein – HAC regained their lead before Stewart Shaw got over the whitewash to equalise for a second time. A Burton penalty then put BP 15-12 up, but their hosts levelled 20 minutes from the end.

Belsize captain George Hazlett told Ham&High Sport: “They’re probably one of the better sides we’ll play this season. They play very similar rugby to us, it was a good test, and a draw was probably a fair reflection of how both teams played.

“We’re still chopping and changing the team a wee bit each week trying to find the consistency in all the positions but [a win and a draw] is probably is a fair reflection of where we are.

“There are still a lot of things to work on but the new guys that have come in have really bought into the structure well and are providing us with options in a different positions, which is always a good thing.”