The Sussex U20 pack overpowered their Hertfordshire Stags counterparts in the scrums to create the platform for victory in the opening pool match of the RFU National U20 Championship at Worthing on Sunday, 28th January. Their No 8s scored no less than four tries from the back of 5 metre scrums and, but for very solid defence, more scores would have come from that area.

Away from the scrums the Stags fared much better and they made the most of their opportunities to score four tries. The forwards more than held their own in the lines out and the loose and the backs, once they had settled, were a force to be reckoned with.

The first sign of the Sussex dominance of the scrums came in the first minute, when the Stags got poor ball under pressure, a pass was fumbled and fly half Farnes (Worthing) scooped up the ball to score. Govett (Haywards Heath) added the conversion and the visitors were 7-nil down. However the Stags response was swift. Winning a penalty on the half way line they ran the ball and left wing Ian Crompton (Stevenage Town) crossed the line. Joe Clarke's conversion levelled the score and there had been barely 5 minutes play.

Following another Stags handling error Sussex were soon camped on the visitors line. From a scrum the Stags defence, for the first of many times, held up an attacker over the line. However at the next scrum, No 8 Maidment (Haywards Heath) picked up and drove over for a try that was converted from near the touchline by Govett.

The Stags narrowed the gap through a Clarke penalty but then Sussex had a series of 5 metre scrums. Four times Sussex attempted to drive over using the No 8 pick up and each time the defence held. The Stags then broke out, centre Joe Weston (Wasps) made a fine break, second row Calise Lowe (Old Albanian) was up in support and he crossed the line for a try that Clarke converted. For the remaining 7 minutes of the half Sussex again laid siege to the Stags' line but the defence thwarted their efforts to retain a 17-14 lead at half time.

The Stags extended their lead in the opening minutes of the second half, when they used rare quick ball from a scrum, Crompton coming in off his wing and sprinting over for an unconverted try. Clarke then left the field with a shoulder injury and the Stags last line of defence became a little suspect. Sussex used their forward dominance to set up a 5 metre scrum, but they knocked on over the line. Then they won a scrum against the head, Maidment drove over for his second try, Govett adding the extra two points and Sussex were one point behind.

Mid way through the half the Stags extended their lead through a fine break by No 8 Josh Corcoran (Hertford) and the move was finished off by lock Aaron Springham (Bishop's Stortford) who showed a fine turn of speed to cross the line. However that was the Stags last score. The continued Sussex pressure took its toll and in the last 15 minutes they breached the visitor's defence three times. Twice replacement No 8 May drove over from the back of the scrum and finally Govett capped a fine game with a try and also converted all three tries.

The final score of 42-27 did not do justice to the great defensive efforts of the Stags or the creative skills of the backs. However the Stags will have to strengthen their scrummaging before their next game, which is against Kent at Hertford RFC on 18th February.

Hertfordshire Stags: Joe Clarke (Bishop's Stortford); Ian Crompton (Stevenage Town), Alistair Ledsham (Hertford), Joe Weston (Wasps), Jack Barnes (Bishop's Stortford); Ollie Forest (Hertford), Dean Boyle (Bishop's Stortford); William Freestone (Welwyn) (Capt), Chris Forest (Hertford), Geoff Lewin (Harpenden), Calise Lowe (Old Albanian), Aaron Springham (Bishop's Stortford), Matt Paget (Bishop's Stortford), Michael Winters (Hertford), Josh Corcoran (Hertford).

Replacements: Chris Alder (Bishop's Stortford), Rob French (Stevenage Town) (Lewin 54 min), Adam Shaw (Ampthill) (Clarke 43 min), James Alford (Letchworth) (Lowe 40 min), Ben Phillips (Hertford) (Paget 60 min).