Hertfordshire beat Eastern Counties by 65 points to 21 in spectacular fashion at Hoe Lane on Saturday in their opening County Championship Shield match, scoring no less than nine tries.

The Hertfordshire back row of debutant Paul Gustard (Old Albanian), Chris Rainbow (Hertford) and skipper Dave Archer (Cambridge) had an outstanding game and paved the way for some spectacular running particularly from full back Tom Newton (Tring) and scrum half Mark Evans (Old Albanians). The pack provided a plentiful supply of line out ball, were quick to the breakdown and solid in the scrums most of the time. This gave a great platform for the backs to express themselves with the resulting scoreline.

Eastern Counties played their part with their backs looking dangerous at times especially in the early stages of each half and particularly the second when two quick tries threatened a come back.

The visitors took the imitiative from the Herts kick off and their backs looked dangerous and it took a short while for the Herts defence to tighten up. But then after just over five minutes play Newton made the first of what was to prove to be many spectacular breaks from the half way line. The ball was taken on by Ian Crompton and Gustard was on hand to score the opening try. Richard Gregg (Old Albanian) added the conversion and then increased the lead two minutes later with a penalty. Newton then ran the ball from the restart, Gustard took the ball on and Evans fished off the try in style, Gregg again converting. The burst of scoring wasn't over because just at the end of the first quarter, a clearance kick from Newton bounced awkwardly from the hard ground on the half way line, a defender failed to catch the ball and Evan seized it and sprinted over for another converted try. Herts were 24 points up.

Eastern Counties rallied, put some pressure on the Herts defence and were rewarded with two penalties, both kicked by fly half Tom Hughes (Saffron Walden). However the home side were soon back in the visitor's half and won a penalty that Gregg converted. Then Luke Sloan (Southend) made a break from the half way line and put Crompton over in the right corner. Although that was the end of the first half scoring there was still time for both Evans and Newton to show their paces though both attacks broke down near the line.

Even though they were 32-6 down at half time, it was Eastern Counties who made the running in the opening stages of the second half. After four minutes Alex Kelsall (Diss) crossed the line after some good forward support and then second row Matt Edison (Cambridge) scored in the corner after a missed tackle. Neither try was converted.

Herts replied immediately with a Newton try after Evans had taken a quick penalty and the forwards had set up good ball. Next the home forwards drove Jim Remfry (Caldy) over the line following a line out, Gregg added the conversion and Herts led 44-16. The visitors kept going, winning turn over ball in mid field and wing Tom Holt (North Walsham) crossed the line. But this burst of scoring wasn't over because from the restart Sloan burst through from the half way line and put fellow centre Steve Small (Hertford) over under the posts for an easy Gregg conversion and a half century of points for Herts.

Herts now made a couple of changes to the front row but it didn’t diminish their dominance and on the half hour two more tries came in quick succession. Firstly Nico Burger (Old Ashmoleans) scored following a forward pick up and drive and then moments later replacement prop Giles Wallis (Tring) crossed the line. Gregg converted both before retiring amongst the final tranche of replacements. That was the end of the scoring as two tired sides welcomed the final whistle after a very pacey game.

Hertfordshire will go to Basingstoke next week to take on Hampshire in the knowledge that Hampshire beat Middlesex in the other pool match by one point. Kick off will be at 3.00 pm

Hertfordshire:

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

Replacements: Giles WALLIS Tring (Cross 63 min), Ryan LONG Letchworth (Remfry 63 min), Alfie CHURCH Hertford (Amos 49 min), Johan Van DYK Old Ashmoleans (Rainbow 71 min), Stuart SMART Hertford (Crompton 53 min), Steve ELLIS Hertford (Sloan 71 min), Tom COLEMAN Bishop's Stortford (Gregg 71 min).