Belsize Park missed the chance to extend their winning start to the season as they threw away a 20-point half-time lead to lose away against 14-man Welwyn in London North-West Division Three.

Ben Parker touched down twice and the returning Tristan Smith also crossed the line while Richard Wilson kicked a conversion and a penalty to put the visitors 20-0 up at the break.

But Chris Dan was sin-binned after the interval and Welwyn came back, running in five converted tries. The hosts were reduced to 14 men by a red card and BP’s Will Allen crossed the whitewash twice, but that was not enough.

Belsize coach Andy Barrington said: “It was a terrible result to have gone from such a strong position to lose like that. We have Hackney and Stevenage in the next two games so we will really know what we can expect to aim for from our season after those games.”