Fly-half Dan Stewart’s 22-point haul guided UCS Old Boys past bottom-of-the-table Old Millhillians with a 43-22 win in Herts/Middx Division One.

Stewart crossed the line twice for UCS and also added three conversions and two penalties, with further tries from David O’Dwyer, Mert Zabci, Paul Dillon and Chris Bean in a high-scoring contest.

It was UCS’s biggest league win since 2012 – and their first in three games – and director of rugby Geoff Boxer paid tribute to 34-year-old Stewart’s contribution.

“Dan is one of our most experienced players and an invaluable figure for us this season,” Boxer told Ham&High Sport.

“A good No 10 gives you control in the middle and his kicking game is excellent. He’s going to be a really important player as we continue rebuilding.”

Stewart’s kicking accuracy was certainly in evidence against Old Millhillians, but not before the away side struck first with a penalty. That, however, was the only time throughout the match that UCS were behind. Stewart’s first penalty levelled the scores and set the tone for a first half dominated by the home side.

Stewart ran in UCS’s first try, and with the home side creating breaks aplenty further tries followed from Stewart, O’Dwyer and Zabci.

It was a commanding display from UCS, their scrum and line-out flawless.

They extended the lead early in the second half, with Dillon touching down from a turnover, before Old Millhillians finally showed some resolve and enjoyed a brief spell of pressure.

And that pressure paid off as they ran in three tries of their own to close the gap.

However, UCS were soon back in the ascendancy, crossing the line once more through Bean to make the game safe.

Four wins and three defeats from UCS’s first seven games have made for an inconsistent start to the season, but Boxer admitted his side will be looking up the table should they achieve another win against Bank of England this weekend.

“Realistically, this season is about stabilising after we lost so many players at the end of last season,” Boxer added.

“However, we have a strong front row, which is the bedrock of any side, and we are halfway up the table – so we are certainly looking up, not down.”