Hertfordshire opened their County Championship Shield campaign disappointingly, losing to Eastern Counties at West Norfolk RFC on Saturday by 10 points.

There was not much to choose between the teams but the home side made the most of their chances and Hertfordshire didn't. There was no real pattern to the game for long periods with both packs pretty evenly matched. The Hertfordshire back row had a good game and the forwards held their own in the scrums. The real difference was in the backs, where defensive errors and some poor handling by the visitors gave the home side the opening for three of their tries.

The opening stages of the game were fairly loose but when, after 10 minutes play, Eastern Counties had a line out 5 metres from the Herts line they took full advantage. A catch and drive resulted in No 8 Mike Howard (North Walsham) touching down for the opening score. Althought the restart went direct into touch, Herts soon won possession and took play to the home 22 where Eastern Counites presented Richard Gregg (Old Albanian) with an easy penalty. Hertfordshire kept the iniatiative for the next ten minutes through some good tactical kicking and took the lead with a well worked try. Hertfordshire won the ball 15 metres out and spun it left, full back Tom Newton (Tring) came into the line, touched down and Gregg added the extra points. Minutes later the visitors should have extended their lead but knocked on with the line at their mercy.

Instead it was Eastern Counties who scored next. They kicked a penalty into the corner and set up a drive from the lineout, then spun it out and wing Tom Holt easily beat the cover to score a try that Peter Clifford (Hartbury) converted. The lead change hands twice more in the last 10 minutes of the half. Firstly Gregg kicked penalty, with the aid of an upright, following a home infringement at a ruck. Then just when Herts thought they would have the lead at the half time whistle a back move broke down, Eastern Counties fly hacked through and Rob Clymer (North Walsham) gathered the ball and scored to make it 17-13.

The second half couldn't have started better for Herts when, in the first minute, Gregg dropped a goal after Herts had won a ruck on the home 22. Herts had the best of the next five minutes or so, but when they conceded a penalty some 35 metres from their line, Clifford added the three points with ease. 5 minutes later the home team went further ahead when fly half Clifford eased past some indifferent tackling to score a try that he also converted.

Midway through the half Herts reduced the gap when Jon Child (Welwyn) intercepted on the half way line and made it to the try line. Although Child had been forced wide, Gregg added conversion with a fine kick. However Herts knocked on the restart and played the ball from an off side position to present Eastern Counties with another 3 points through the boot of Clifford. Chasing a seven point deficit Herts had some opportunities but they broke down through poor handling and it was the home team that scored the only points in the last quarter though another Clifford penalty.

In all a disappointing performance that will make the task all the harder when Herts take on Cornwall next Sarurday at Hertford RFC, kick off 3.00 pm

Hertfordshire: Tom Newton (Tring); Ian Crompton (Stevenage Town), Jon Child (Welwyn), Ray Adde (Hemel Hempstead), Mark Mansfield (Old Albanian); Richard Gregg (Old Albanian), Toby Prescott (Tring); Ryan Long (Tabard), Tavita Faamausili (Stevenage Town), Jon Patton (Hertford), Adam Amos (Stevenage Town), Rob Dumbleton (Harpenden), Alfie Church (Hertford), Chris Rainbow (Newbury), Dave Archer (Henley Hawks) (Capt).

Replacements: Ryan de la Harpe (Letchworth) (Prescott 53 min), Kyle Lemon (Stevenage Town), Richard Woodard (Tabard), Brent Lemiere (St Albans) (Patton 77 min), Tony Giddings (St Albans), Craig Bailey (Hemel Hempstead) (Amos 84 min), Tom Mowbray (Tring) (Rainbow 57 min)