Hampstead Rugby Club in a good place as they close in on record

Hampstead Rugby Club are closing in on their pre-season target of being the most successful team in their history after a 65-17 win at Stockwood Park.

This was their 15th win in London North West Two this campaign, one short of the record.

And although promotion looks as if it will just be out of reach, head coach Peter Breen believes breaking the total would be a great achievement, especially considering the anniversary being celebrated.

He said: “This is our 50th season and we want to win more games in a season than any other Hampstead team has. We don’t want to tie with it; we want to beat it.

“There’s a good feeling down the club and we’re building towards next season.

“We’re not ready to go up just yet. If and when we do go up we want to give it a really good go.

“We’re happy with where we are but we still want to improve.”

They’ve got three games left in which to get those two wins, including a crunch clash at home to rivals Belsize Park.

“It’ll be a really important game,” said Breen. “There’s a healthy rivalry and it’ll be played in a good spirit. They were formed as a breakaway from Hampstead.

“The game earlier in the season [which Hampstead won 36-6] was a lot closer than the score suggests. We took all our chances but they had just as many. We’re under no illusions.”

They will hope to hit the same kind of form they showed against Stockwood and Harrow, seven days earlier when they triumphed 41-22.

Breen said: “It said much about our strength in depth against Stockwood Park. We had a few people missing up front and an almost second-team backline but I was very happy with some of our performances.

“They have a really heavy pack and can give anyone a game in the forwards. They’re a great club and a credit to themselves.

“Against Harrow we hadn’t beaten a top six side for weeks. It was a much better.”