As part of Hertfordshire's preparations for this season's County Championship, the County hosted Crawshay's Welsh RFC on Sunday, 28th April at Old Albanian RFC. The match also honoured the memory of Vivian Jenkins, the former Welsh International, who lived his later years in Harpenden. Vivian was a Life Member of Hertfordshire RFU and was also President of Crawshay's Welsh XV at the time of his death.

Crawshay's brought powerful side, most of whom play in National Division 1, and their fitness and running skills. were obvious from the start. They played an expansive running game throughout and their counter attacking from deep inside their own territory was brilliant. While not at full strength, Hertfordshire fielded many of the side that will probably play against Gloucestershire next Saturday and whilst they went down to a 54-21 defeat, there were many positives in the performance. Not least their come back in the second half, after being 33-nil down at half time, when they played most of the game in Crawshay's half and scored three tries.

Although starved of ball early on, the forwards gradually began to win a fair amount of loose ball that enabled the backs to impress in the second half. The scrummaging was good until injuries took their toll and the only cause for real worry was in the lineout, where a number of thrown ins were lost.

Crawshay's took the initiative from the kick off and won most of the early exchanges. They swiftly built up a 12-point lead though a try by centre Ben Whetstone (Bedford) and one from wing James Hawken (Rugby Lions) the second of which was converted by Tom Marks (London Welsh). The visitors continued to entertain with some enterprising attacks. When Herts did get the ball they threatened the Crawshay's lone and both Ian Crompton (Stevenage Town) and Gareth Lewis (Stevenage Town) went close.

However on the half hour Crawshay's scored two more tries. Firstly they ran the ball from deep in their own territory to put hooker Matt Miles (Pertemps Bees) over and then lock forward Mauritz Botha (Bedford) made the first of a number of telling runs in midfield to put in centre Liam Roberts (Bedford), Marks converting both tries. The visitor's final try in the first half again came from deep in defence when Marks chipped ahead from his 22, regathered, and put Roberts away, Marks again adding the conversion.

The visitor's again showed their strength and speed at the start of the second half, but the Herts players were getting used to the pace and they upped their game in the loose where they started winning a fair amount of ball and gained territorial advantage. Twice Handre Schmidt used the ball well but counter attacks took Crawshay's to the line where they were held up by good defence. Then after some slick handling Hawken scored his second try and added the conversion. Another mid field break by lock Botha then set up a try for David Clement (Rugby), converted by Hawken and Crawshay's were 47 points up.

The home team did not give up though and from a tapped penalty a few metres out Crompton was in on the blind side and Richard Woodard (Luton) added a fine conversion from the touchline. A few minutes later Herts knocked on near the line, but then from some scrappy play Adam Amos (Steveange Town) charged over the line and Woodard again kicked a fine conversion. With five minutes left, Tom Smit (Tabard) picked up a poor clearance kick and put in Schmidt for Herts third try, which Woodard converted. However on the stroke of full time the visitors once again ran the ball from deep inside their half and Dorian Williams (London Welsh) scored, Marks added the two points and Crawshay's had won a most entertaining match 54-21.

Despite this result, the Hertfordshire team Management are certain that Hertfordshire will have a competitive squad available for the County Championship Bill Beaumont Cup campaign that starts next Saturday, 5th May with a visit to Lydney to play Gloucestershire. The following week the team hosts Devon at Hertford with the final match against Middlesex at Staines RFC on 19th May.

Hertfordshire: Tom Smit (Tabard); Tom Vercoe (Old Albanian), Handre Schmidt (Hertford), Gareth Lewis (Stevenage Town), Ian Crompton (Stevenage Town); Richard Woodard (Luton), Richard Stringer (Hertford; Tony Giddings (St Albans), Simon Banks (Welwyn), Neil Bamber (Stevenage Town), Peter Coke (Hertford, Adam Amos (Stevenage Town), Ben Bazeley (Hertford), Dave Archer (Henley Hawks) (Capt), Justin Joubert (Welwyn)

Replacements: (all used) Garry Glencross (Letchworth), Craig Bailey (Hemel Hempstead), Jon Child (Welwyn), Jacque Naude (Welwyn), Luke Riordan (Crawshay's Welsh)