Hendon finished the calendar year with their seventh win from eight league games and remain second in the table – although they missed out on a bonus point.

Derry O’Connor, Mike Evans-Jones and Chris Towndrow touched down for the Dons in their 20-10 home win but they could not grab a fourth try against 10th-placed Uxbridge and go into the Christmas break five points behind leaders Saracens Amateurs.

Hendon exerted sustained pressure in the early stages and captain Cian Hynes kicked them into the lead with a 12th-minute penalty.

Five minutes later Uxbridge entered the Hendon half for the first time, only for a pass to be intercepted by O’Connor, who ran from his own 22 to score in the corner and extend the advantage to 8-0.

The home side then profited from a penalty kick that failed to find touch in the wind. Micky Culhane caught the ball and passed to Evans-Jones, who side-stepped two defenders and scored a try which was converted by Hines as the Dons took a 15-0 lead into the break.

Uxbridge got their first points on the board with a penalty but Hendon crossed the line for a third time as Towndrow broke from a scrum 10 metres out and crashed over in the corner to make it 20-3.

That left them with just a few minutes to score a valuable fourth try and O’Connor ran from halfway to the five-metre line before being prevented from releasing the ball by the tackler. It looked like a penalty to Hendon but it went Uxbridge’s way and their winger was able to score at the other end.

This Saturday Hendon are hosting a memorial match in honour of their former captain John Ryan, who died earlier this year. Their next league game is on January 9.