Hertfordshire took another giant step towards the RFU County Championship Shield final when they beat Hampshire at Basingstoke on Saturday. Seven tries were scored as good use was made of a plentiful supply of ball from the lineout and the loose. Hampshire won the scrummage contest, but even with the wind at their backs in the second half they could only manage one try thanks to some very intelligent Hertfordshire defence, though it must be said poor handling let the home side down at times.

Hertfordshire had two enforced changes from the side that beat Eastern Counties the week before, but that did not upset their teamwork. Scrum half Mark Evans (Old Albanian) again caught the eye with some electric breaks and the kicking from hand and place kicking by his club colleague, Richard Gregg, was excellent. But once again it was the forwards and especially the back row that laid the foundation to success. In the line out they took at least three against the throw and effectively disrupted others. They were quick to the breakdown and defended well, especially in the second half when Hants had the wind at their backs. The home forwards did have the edge at the scrums where they won three strikes against the head.

Hertfordshire kicked off with a strong wing behind them and it was not long before they opened the scoring. They won a line out on the home 22 and from the subsequent maul, Evans broke past the Hants back row and sprinted over for a try that Gregg converted from near the touch line. The visitors kept up the pressure and Hants were pinned inside their own half. Chris Rainbow (Hertford) and Gregg combined to almost create a score and then the visitors successfully recycled the ball a number of times getting nearer the line until Jim Remfry (Caldy) drove over to take the score to 12 points.

Although Herts lost a ball against the head and were penalised at the scrum, they continued to keep the play in the Hants half. On the half hour an excellent Gregg penalty kick put the ball into touch 10 metres out. The ball was won and run to the left, recycled and Ian Crompton (Stevenage Town) sprinted over in the right corner, Gregg adding points with an excellent conversion. From the restart, Gregg kicked long from his 22 to set up a line out 15 metres from the home line. Hampshire knocked on their possession, Herts won the subsequent scrum and Tom Newton came into the line beating the defence with a lovely dummy to cross the line. Gregg then landed another excellent conversion from wide out.

In the dying minutes of the first half Hants got over the Herts 22 for first time and, winning a penalty, set up a line out 10 metres out. However the visitors won the ball against the throw cleared and the half was over, with the Herts 26 - nil ahead.

Hertfordshire dominated the opening stages of the second half despite playing into the strong wind. The home kick off failed to make 10 metres and from the subsequent scrum Steve Small (Hertford) made a great break to take play to the Hants 22. Their relieving kick was run back by Newton, who was then taken out by the Hants flanker who consequently missed the next 10 minutes play. Herts kicked for a line out, won the ball and a Rainbow drive gave Greg space to score wide out. Herts then injected fresh legs into the back row with the appearance of Ian Hardcastle (Hertford), clubmate Alfie Church moving up to second row.

Hampshire then had their best period of the game as with the help of the wind they kept Herts on the defensive. Good tacking and a lack of panic meant that Herts were able to keep possession in their 22 rather than kick the ball to the opposition. However after 15 minutes play Hampshire finally broke through via fly half Simon Humberstone (UWIC), who scored under the posts, Matt Hart (Richmond) adding the conversion. Minutes later Herts responded through a Gregg penalty.

Hampshire returned the to attack but the Herts defence was up to the task and again they were able to keep possession once they had won the ball even though they were in their own half. There was no further score for 20 minutes, but then skipper Dave Archer (Cambridge) broke from a maul on his 10 metre line slipped the ball on the half way line to Hardcastle who showed a good turn of speed to reach the try line. Hants nearly responded when Humberstone made a good break but the ball went astray and Herts ran the ball out of defence once more. Finally as the game went into injury time Handre Schmidt (Hertford)crossed the line and replacement Tom Coleman (Bishop’s Stortford) added the conversion to give Hertfordshire an emphatic win, 46 - 7.

Next Saturday Hertfordshire meet Middlesex at Staines, kick off 3.00 pm but there will have to be some very strange results to stop Hertfordshire playing at Twickenham the following week.

Hertfordshire:

Tom NEWTON Tring; Ian CROMPTON Stevenage Town, Handre SCHMIDT Cambridge, Steve SMALL Hertford, Nico BURGER Old Ashmoleans; Richard GREGG Old Albanian, Mark EVANS Old Albanian; Jon PATTON Hertford, Matt CROSS Hertford, Jim REMFRY Caldy, Rob ANDERSON Saracens Academy, Adam AMOS Stevenage Town, Alfie CHURCH Hertford, Chris RAINBOW Hertford, Dave ARCHER Cambridge (Capt).

Replacements: Adam GELMAN Old Albanian (Patton 62 min), Giles WALLIS Tring (Cross 72 min), Ian HARDCASTLE Hertford (Amos 48 min), Johan Van DYK Old Ashmoleans (Rainbow 78 min), Stuart SMART Hertford (Burger 62 min), Kieron DAVIES Ampthill (Newton 72 min), Tom COLEMAN Bishop's Stortford (Gregg 72 min).

Scorers: Tries Evans, Remfrey, Crompton, Newton, Gregg, Hardcastle, Schmidt; Conversions Gregg (3), Coleman, Penalty Gregg