Herts Retain Top Status despite Defeat

Hertfordshire retained their status in the top group of the RFU County Championship, despite losing their final Championship Cup match to Gloucestershire at Old Albanian RFC on Saturday. In spite of another gutsy performance, the somewhat depleted side was not able to emulate the result of last week and they went down 28-14 to a strong Gloucestershire side. However with Devon continuing their defence of the Cup with a win over Cornwall,it is the Duchy's side that is relegated to the Shield for next season.

Once again the visitors were a much stronger side on paper with their players being drawn from level one to level four clubs, whilst the Hertfordshire side spread from level three to level 10. However the Hertfordshire spirit was well to the fore and the pack in particular did not give up, still having the energy to disrupt the last three Gloucestershire put-ins of the match. Attacking possession was limited so the backs had mainly defensive duties, but Richard Gregg (Old Albanian) made the most of what opportunities were available and had a hand, or boot, in both Hertfordshire's scores.

A strong cross wind made conditions tricky as Gloucestershire kicked off and they were soon camped in the home half. Their pressure got an early reward when Herts were penalised 10 metres out, James Pavitt (Old Albanian) went in the sin bin and fly half Rory Teague kicked the easy penalty. It took some 8 minutes for Herts to get into the Gloucstershire half for the first time, but then good lineout possession brought reward - if a little fortuitously. The forward drive from the line out gave good possession to Gregg, whose drop goal attempt rebounded from the upright into the arms of Paul Welch who gratefully touched down. Gregg added the conversion to give Herts the lead after 10 minutes.

Gloucestershire resumed their attack but the Herts defence was its usual sound self and it took another 15 minutes before the visitors retook the lead. Then they ran a penalty and put in right wing Sylvan Edwards (Lydney) in the corner for an unconverted try. In the remaining 15 minutes of the half Herts had one good chance, but the kick and chase from Tim Holgate (London Welsh) came to nothing and two penetrating runs by the visiting full back were stopped in the end by good tackling. So Herts were just one point behind at half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first and Gloucestershire soon put the home side under pressure. They were held up over the line once but then two scores in 3 minutes took the game from Herts. Firstly wing Andrew McCrae (Lydney) scored from a kick through and then hooker Chris Hall (Henley) crossed the line and Gloucs were leading 18-7. 10 minutes later a rare missed tackle let in McRae for his second try, which Teague converted. But the Herts spirit was still there and after 30 minutes play a short period of sustained pressure brought its reward as Herts ran a penalty and Gregg just managed to reach the line as he was tackled. He then converted his own try. A couple of minutes later Teague added another penalty for the visitors, but that was the end of the scoring. Three final defiant scrums from Hertfordshire ensured that their heads were high despite defeat and all the players involved in the three match campaign can be proud of their contribution to County Rugby in general and Hertfordshire in particular.

Hertfordshire Team: Jonathan Childs (Welwyn); Tim Holgate (London Welsh), Ed Orchard (Old Albanian), Paul Welch (Hertford), Joe Shaw (St Albans); Richard Gregg (Old Albanian), Rob Humphrey (Harpenden); Brent Green (St Albans), Brent Lemiere (St Albans), Neil Bamber (Stevenage Town), James Pavitt (Old Albanian), John Sayers (St Albans), David Rose (Bishop's Stortford), Tom Mowbray (Tring), David Archer (Henley Hawks) (Capt).

Replacements: Gareth Lewis (Stevenage Town)(Orchard 79m), Ray Adde (Hemel Hempstead)(Welch 41m), Richard Woodard (Luton) (Childs 79m), Simon Banks (Welwyn)(Lemiere 79m), Tony Giddings (St Albans)(Bamber 62m), Adam Amos (Stevenage Town)(Sayers 75m), Ian Ward (Welwyn)(Mowbray 71m)