Hertford RFC Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship

A Belated Happy New Year

By John Irvine

A belated Happy New Year to all from Club President, Peter King

On Saturday at our first game of 2018 we welcome Guernsey Raiders to Hoe Lane. We have been playing the Raiders for the last six seasons in the London and South East Premier League and each match has been a tight affair. Our last meeting in September saw Guernsey beat us 27-21. During the game we received 4 yellow cards forcing us to play 40 minutes with 14 men. We cannot compete with the top clubs of this league without our full complement so discipline on the field is a priority today. Guernsey sit, deservedly, at the top of the league and Saturday’s game will be vital for both sides.

Our last home game saw us comprehensively defeat Shelford 31 - 5 which left us second in the league but with a game in hand after the Westcliff postponement. We knew that January would be a challenging month with matches against 3 of the top teams in the league, Barnes, Guernsey and Tring. Our match against Barnes last week saw us come unstuck with a tough defeat. After a strong start we took a three point lead but when our scrum half, Michael Sargeant, received a red card in the 13th minute it was going to be a difficult afternoon. The team put in a great shift, leading at half time and with 10 minutes to go we were hunting for the winning score. But numbers prevailed and Barnes ran out winners 34-16.

Our 2nd XV remain at the top of Division 2 of the Zoo League after a 64 -10 win over Shelford before Christmas and taking this winning habit into the New Year by defeating Bury St Edmunds 2nd XV 22 – 15 last week in a very tight game. They face third placed Canterbury 2nd XV away on Saturday.

The Hoes XV, our 3rd XV, had a disappointing end to 2017 but bounced back last week with a fantastic win over Welwyn 2nd XV 22-19. This leaves them mid table but with prospects of a higher finish.

The Termites XV put in a fabulous performance to beat Royston 2nd XV in a League and Cup double header 64-0 last week . We wait with baited breath each week to read the match report from the erstwhile scribe, Chippy. I recommend you watch out for his reports on the website.

Finally it is only fitting to mention that we said goodbye this week to one of our Honorary Life Vice Presidents, Vera Hodges, who had been involved with the club since the early 1950s. With her husband Bill they were involved for decades not just with Hertford but with the Hertfordshire RFU and the RFU itself. We will not see her like again and she will be greatly missed by her Rugby Family.

It would be great to see you all at Hoe Lane on Saturday. Your support would be much appreciated by the players and coaching staff.

Happy New Year,
Peter King
Club President

Updated 21:05 - 31 Aug 2019 by John Irvine

Where next?

Latest 400 Club Draw News Results for Saturday 13th January 2018
1ST XV TO PLAY GUERNSEY Head coach Baz gives a squad update ahead of Hertford v Guernsey at Hoe Lane this Saturday 13 January, kick off 2pm.

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Schedule
Sat 6 Apr
h
1st XV Colchester
League 15:00
h
Extra 1st XV Colchester 2nds
Friendly 15:00
Sun 7 Apr
a
U10 Harpenden
Friendly 09:45
h
U14 OA's
League 10:00
a
Minis Girls Letchworth RFC
Friendly 10:00
a
U12 Harpenden
Friendly 10:00
h
U11 Harpenden
Friendly 10:00
h
Friendly 10:00
a
Friendly 10:00
h
Friendly 10:00
a
U13 Barnet B
League 10:30
h
U16 Thurrock
Friendly 11:00
h
Friendly 11:00
Sat 13 Apr
h
1st XV Rochford 100
Cup C – C
C

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