Rugby: Eastern Counties U20s 9 Hertfordshire U20s 8 - Eastern Counties registered a win in the first game of this seasons RFU Under 20's County championship at a wet and wind swept Bishops Stortford on Sunday February 3.

Eastern Counties U20s 9. Hertfordshire U20s 8

Eastern Counties registered a win in the first game of this seasons RFU Under 20's County championship at a wet and wind swept Bishops Stortford on Sunday February 3.

In a close game with the weather conditions making life difficult, both sides try to play adventurous rugby.

Counties took the lead in the 6th minute with a penalty by David Gilmore. Shortly afterwards, Luke Crowhurst was sent to the sin bin for failing to roll away from the ball in a tackle.

This was a very harsh decision by the referee, as it was the first offence by Counties and he had not given any warning to either side. Counties did well to maintain the lead whilst a man down.

Counties struggled to put any pattern on their game, and were guilty of not going through phases of play as had been worked on in our training sessions.

Hertfordshire levelled the scores on 37 minutes, and took the lead in the 39th minute when their outside centre made a good break and had the speed to outpace the Counties covering defence. The conversion was missed leaving the score at half time 8 – 3 in favour of Hertfordshire.

Early in the second half Counties started to make substitutions and by the last quarter of the game they started to pay off with a better pattern of play.

In the 62nd minute Counties were awarded a further penalty, which was converted by David Gilmore, to bring the score to 8 – 6 in favour of Herts.

Counties continued to improve and kept the pressure on.

They were rewarded with another penalty in the 78th minute, which was again converted by David Gilmore.

Games between these sides are normally very close, and the nail biting continued right up to the final whistle with Herts. being awarded a penalty straight from the restart. The kick was on the 10 metre line, and in the conditions was never going to be easy, and the attempt finished wide and short.

Counties cleared the ball and heaved a sigh of relief when the referee blew for full time shortly after.

It is good to get of the mark with a victory, but the players all know they will need to step up a couple of gears for the game against Kent on the February 17, at Unites Services Ground, Chatham.

Team: 1 Alistair Moir Diss,2 Matthew Adamson Colchester, 3 Deane Garrard Northampton, 4 William Hemsley London Irish, 5 Alex Fear Cambridge, 6 Martin Webdale UWIC, 7 Patric Redding Westcliff, 8 Alex Primer Ipswich, 9 Carl Bradshaw Northampton, 10 David Gilmore Barking, 11 Luke Crowehurst Thames, 12 Nick Richardson Woodford, 13 Daniel Cootes Barking, 14 Darryl Worster Thurrock, 15 Mark Hill Norwich.

Replacements:-

Graham Thomas, Northampton, Stuart Wilkins London Welsh, David Rayner Barking, Stewart Ford Harlow, Terry Riches Barking, Jagjit Johal Thurrock, Doug Greenwood Norwich.

Tony Hoult, Manager Eastern Counties U20's