Hertfordshire Stags produced a very disappointing performance in their RFU National U20 Championship match against Kent on Sunday at Hertford RFC, finally succumbing by 41 points to 3.

The home pack failed to compete against a very well drilled Kent unit in the tight and although they did better in the loose, very little quality ball was won. Most of the ball that was won was squandered by some muddled mid field play and as a result the Stags' pacey wings were not brought into play. The talented Joe Clarke (Bishop's Stortford) tried a few counter attacks from full back but they came to nothing. In contrast the Kent backs played as a unit and prospered with a plentiful supply of quality ball.

As against Sussex, the Stags got off to a poor start and conceded early points. This time they were offside at a ruck in the first minute and Kent's skipper and full back David Dorton (Canterbury) kicked the easy penalty. Play took a while to settle, but the Stags were mostly on the back foot and forced to concede penalties. The referee's patience broke when he sin binned Josh Corcoran (Hertford) for persistent team infringement and almost immediately Kent took advantage of their superior numbers. They won an attacking lineout and drove flanker Colin Chapman (Canterbury) over for an unconverted try. Shortly after a good run from defence by Clarke took the home side into an attacking position, Kent conceded a penalty and Clarke opened the Stags' account.

Kent continued the press for much of the second quarter, but the Stags defended well. Just before half time Clarke again ran the ball well out of defence but the ball was lost in midfield. The loose ball was fed to Kent right wing, Tom Ash (Thanet Wanderers), who sprinted in for a try under the posts that was converted by Dorton. And Kent were 15-3 up at half time.

Almost from the restart some slick Kent handling produce a try for left wing Nick Williams (Old Elthamians) and Dorton added the conversion. The superior Kent teamwork limited the Stags possession and the home side's concentration also lapsed at times. After 30 minutes, Kent took their first strike against the head and using the ball well put centre Craig Webb (Gillingham Anchorians) over the line for a try converted by Dorton. The Stags were now tiring and in the last 10 minutes Kent added two mores scores through Luke Bellinger (Westcombe Park), from broken play, and Ash at the end of another good three-quarter movement. Dorton completed a good day by converting the first of these and Kent had won 41-3.

The Stags have only a week in which to pick themselves up before their final game against Middlesex at Hitchin RFC on Sunday, 225th February, kick off 2.15 pm

Hertfordshire Stags: Joe Clarke (Bishop's Stortford); Ian Crompton (Stevenage Town), Stuart Smart (Hertford), Marcus Cattell (Bishop's Stortford), Adam Shaw (Ampthill); Chris Clayton-Smith (Bishop's Stortford), Ollie Forrest (Hertford); Chris Alder (Bishop's Stortford), Chris Forrest (Hertford) (Capt), Geoff Lewin (Harpenden), James Alford (Letchworth), Craig South (Hertford), Matt Paget (Bishop's Stortford), Josh Corcoran (Hertford), Alex Knight (Hertford).

Replacements: Jack Newman (Hertford) (Alder 71 min), Matt Povey (Hertford) (Alford 64 min), Dean Boyle (Bishop's Stortford) (Paget 49 min), James South (Hertford).