Old Albanian U16 girls capped what was already a fantastic season by claiming a league and cup double.

The young rugby stars had already won the Bucks Invitational League a few weeks earlier after an impressive perfect record, conceding just two tries along the way.

Herts Advertiser: Old Albanian beat Fullerians by the first try the winner rule. Picture: THOMAS FANTINI-SIMPSONOld Albanian beat Fullerians by the first try the winner rule. Picture: THOMAS FANTINI-SIMPSON (Image: Thomas Fantini-Simpson)

They added to that though by claiming the Bucks Invitational League Cup, beating Fullerians in dramatic fashion.

The sides had finished tied 12-12 at the final whistle but the trophy went to OAs by virtue of the fast, aggressive start which brought the game's opening try.

A spokesman for the club said: "It’s been another hugely successful season for the squad with nine girls receiving Hertfordshire county honours.

"This success has been mirrored across all the girls' age groups from U12s through to U18s.

"And Amelia Macdougall from the U18s also earned her first England international cap after being selected for the U18 Six Nations team." 

The club's senior men lost 28-21 to Barnes in their penultimate National Two East contest.

Played at OA's Woollams, it was the visitors who started the stronger with a line-out that held sway for the full 80 minutes.

It brought an opening try for Alexander March on 11 minutes but from there, it was the defences that ruled the roost, meeting any strong carries with an equally strong response.

Albanian did find a chink in the Barnes' armour though on a couple of occasions, scoring twice either side of another unconverted away try and a penalty.

Wilson Ijeh crashed through a number of tacklers to score the first in the corner and then he bagged a second late on in the half, Harrison Legg converting both for a 14-13 advantage.

Like the first half, it was the visitors who started the bright and two tries in four minutes through Alexander Mclean-Nelson and Paul O’Dell, the second of them converted by Simon Keller, pushed them into a nine-point lead.

But OAs hit back on the hour with an unconverted score from John Kenwood and it set up a tense finale.

The penalty count though went against the home side and a penalty from Keller on the final whistle ended their resistance.

Albanian finish their season back at home against Guernsey.

Harpenden's run in the RFU Community Regional One Championship Cup ended at the pool stage.

They finished with a second home win by beating Shelford 35-26 at Redbourn Lane but ended up second in the standings behind Havant, who were awarded their game with Harps on a walkover.