Billericay, however, hit back on 16 minutes thriving from a Hartpury mistake deep in their own half at a scrum and centre Andrew Warren sprinted over close to the posts to give full back Tim Maynard a simple two points.

But, Hartpury when immediately took the sting out of Billericay’s celebrations as they hit back at the other end outstanding lock Pretorious latched on to Stevenson’s cross kick to stride in unopposed.

Stevenson converted and minutes later added a penalty while also swinging his boot deep into injury time after Pretorious had finished off a stirring attack from the College side.

Leading 22-7 at the break Hartpury again hit Billericay hard from the restart when lock Llyr Griffiths tore through their defence for try number four before two more in four minutes put the game out of reach for the Essex side.

Left wing Jason Murphy grabbed the first and almost from the restart right wing Pete Swatkins was touching down on the other wing to put Hartpury 37-7 in front.

From then on in was one-way traffic with further tries from replacement Greg King, Pretorious, full back Dan Norton, a second for Swatkins and the final one came from fly half Stephenson collecting his own chip ahead and scoring wide out.

Murphy adding his fifth conversion having taken over the kicking duties from Stephenson.

Billericay’s only grain of comfort in the second half came from a try by replacement wing Dave Talbot. 

BILLERICAY: Maynard; Barry, Young, Warren, Woodward; Harries, Robinson; Yates, Goldsmith, Bond; Last, Clow; Norfolk, Butler, Draper. Reps – Atkinson, Bennett, Browne, Hendy, Kell, Talbot, Willingale.

HARTPURY COLLEGE: Norton; Swatkins, Mansbridge, Botha, Murphy; Stevenson, Dickens; Whitehall, Collins, Turner; Pretorious, Griffiths; Molitika, McCardell, Havea. Reps – Guilding, Page, Heyns, Eddy, Gilbert, King, Walsh.