Saffron Walden scored 13 unanswered tries to beat Basildon and stay top of the table going into the Christmas break.

Amazingly Walden were 73-0 up at half-time with Adam Miles scoring a hat-trick, added to a Ben Nash double and singles from centre Mark Kimberley, flanker Matt Holden, captain James Gosden, Tom Price, Tom Hughes and Mitch Clare.

The second half was much more serene with the hosts only notching another 14 points but the damage had already been done.

The writing was on the wall as the league leaders scored in the first minute as Kimberley was on the receiving end of the final pass to put Walden 7-0 up as Price converted.

Further tries in the next 15 minutes by fellow centre Clare, left winger Nash and fly half Hughes jinking through the Basildon defence secured the bonus point.

Then the forwards got in on the act as second row Gosden found himself on the wing to score on the 19 minute mark and then Holden burst through some tackles to go under the posts. Walden were 38 points up with only a quarter of the game played.

Right winger Miles was the next to score as he cut inside to wrong foot the defence and sped over for his first and Walden’s seventh.

Price, Nash and Miles, with the second of his three tries, made it a perfect 10 before the break with Miles snaffling another for his treble to end the half in style. Hughes added the extras with the boot.

It was no surprise that this level could not be maintained after the break as naturally the game was already won and Basildon to their credit regrouped and were much more organised in defence.

Walden still had all the chances in the second half but the tries just did not come until 15 minutes from the end as No.8 Baker went over and inside the final 10 minutes with Kimberley rushing over for his second.

Next up Ipswich on Saturday, January 9.