Trophy

Hemel Hempstead 15 - 19 Hitchin

Cup

Hertford 45 - 12 Letchworth

The favourites came through in the end but in both finals they had to overcome determined opposition at Croxley Green last Sunday.

In the Trophy, Hemel Hempstead belied their League form by dominating the first half of the match. They took an early lead through a try by fly half Danny McMahon and midway through the half lock forward Colin Campbell crossed the line to make it 10-0 to Hemel. The Hemel forwards were well on top of their Hitchin counterparts who did not show any of their league form.

The half time break gave Hitchin a chance to regroup and they showed far more determination at the start of the second half. A series of attacks caused Hemel to concede a number of penalties and eventually the referee awarded a penalty try to Hitchin, the conversion of which failed. The score remained at 10-5 for the next half hour, but Hemel were tiring and they also lost their composure resulting in their skipper being yellow carded. Hitchin made the most of their numerical superiority when they drove lock Garth Jones over for a try, which was converted by Paul Howard. Then as the game went into stoppage time, Jones added his second try, which again was converted by Howard to give Hitchin victory by 19 points to 10

Hertford retained the Cup with something to spare, but again Letchworth showed great determination and never gave up. However the much greater speed and fitness of the Hertford backs was the telling factor, plus the uncompromising defence of the Hertford forwards. Neil Barella gave Hertford an early lead with a penalty but the Letchworth pack held their own in the set pieces to such an extent that Hertford did not score again until the 33rd minute when fly half Richard Manion touched down under the posts and Barella added the conversion. Then on the stroke of half time Martin Brady made a fine run and put Barella over the line. Barella added the conversion to make the score 17 nil at half time.

Hertford dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half during which time Barella scored his second try and added the conversion and scrum half Matt Reid showed a fine turn of pace to score with Barella again converting. Letchworth then put the Hertford line under some pressure and were rewarded with a try by flanker Giles Cook. However the next attack turned to dust as Barella intercepted a pass 5 metres from his own line and sprinted the length of the field to score his third try, inevitably adding the conversion. The game now became a bit disjointed but there was still time for speedy prop Darren Spillane to score for Letchworth, Darren Messenger converting, before Adam Roberts added the final try of the match for Hertford, after which Barella took his personal tally to 30 points and gave victory to Hertford by 45 points to 12