Hertfordshire Rugby Football Union 

Press Notice 

Herts retain David Ransom Cup 

Middlesex County Clubs XV 0 Herts A XV 8 

Hertfordshire retained the David Ransom Cup when their A XV beat Middlesex County Clubs XV at Harrow on Wednesday, 24th February by 8 points to nil. The Cup, which is awarded annually to the winner of the two games played each season between these sides, in memory of David Ransom, who was very influential in reviving the Middlesex county Clubs XV and to whom these games were particularly dear. Last November, Hertfordshire won the home encounter at Old Albanians 22 - 11. 

The pitch at Harrow was barely playable with standing water in some places and there was thick drizzle for much of the game, so it was not a classic. In fact the teams were barely recognisable after the first half, apart from the clean shirts of the replacements, and both sides and the referee did well to get a reasonably enterprising game in the conditions. 

Overall the Hertfordshire side did better in the pack and managed to make fewer handling errors especially when picking up the slimy ball in the mud. For the first 10 minutes Middlesex had territorial advantage and although they went near, the visitor's defence held. Then when Hertfordshire put on some pressure they were rewarded when their No 8 Johan van Dyk (Old Ashmoleans) crossed the line in the corner following a good scrummage drive. Both sides continued to try and use the ball, but play got bogged down and there was no further score in the first half. 

Hertfordshire had much the better of the second half and spent much of it in the Middlesex half. However some stout defending prevented the visitors crossing the line though they went close on a few occasions. In fact the only score came after some 10 minutes when replacement wing James Watt (Datchworth) managed to kick a penalty following a Middlesex infringement. As the game disappeared into the mist and the mud it was a relief, to your correspondent at least, when the final whistle came. 

Hertfordshire: Mark Kentish (St Albans); Johannes Rheeder (Fullerians), Ian Reid (Datchworth), Cor van Mollendorf (Old Ashmoleans), James Larman (Hitchin); Dan Wood (Chess Valley), Andy Murphy (Tabard); Brent Lemiere (St Albans), Richard Elvery (Hemel Hempstead), Arran MacDougal (Hemel Hempstead), Car Buckland (Old Ashmoleans), Jon Sayers (St Albans), Scott Stoba (Tabard) (Capt), Darren Perry (Hemel Hempstead), Johan van Dyk (Old Ashmoleans).

Replacements -all used: Dave O'Leary (St Albans), Robin Wildey (Verulamians), Phil Tsangari (St Albans), James Watt (Datchworth), Vinnie Kevans (Hitchin), Michael Thomas (Tabard)