With the clocks going forward marking the start of spring the Bs prepared to play Teddington at home on a fine, dry day, perfect for running rugby.

Hertford received the kick off and got off to a slow star. Some early missed tackles (the lost hour seemed to have affected Hertford more!) cost the home side, as Teddington scored in the right hand corner to take an early lead.

Hertford didn’t let this discourage them and, within minutes, some strong running around the rucks from Hagen, Aaron and Louis took us into their 22. Nice quick ball went from Finn to Max and through the backs to Aston on the wing, who cut inside and went over for a nicely worked try, on the left of the posts. Scores level.

In this see saw game, Teddington were soon back in it. Some strong running and good ball movement along the back line to the left, lead to a well worked forward try to put Teddington 10 - 5 up.

Hertford roared back after the restart with good interchanges between Regan, Hagen and Fraser down the right, leading to Aaron driving to the line from the 22, shrugging off tackles. All level at 10 all.

There was a real ebb and flow to the game with strongly contested rucks and mauls. We showed the best support at the rucks, than at any point this season, from the likes of Louis, Fraser, Brem and Luca. That said, the next try went to Teddington rather fortuitously. Hertford turned over the ball under their own posts, but Teddington’s back line was up surprisingly quickly, their centre got a hand to a Hertford pass, tapped it up and caught it, to go under the posts. Conversion was made to put Teddington 10 -17 ahead

Again Hertford didn’t let this set back effect them. Strong running around the rucks from the forwards including Chris and Freddy lead to a try under the posts for Aaron. He converted it himself to make it 17 all.

As the boys looked forward to half-time, strong running and missed tackles saw a break from Teddington number 4. He was slowed by Max tenaciously hanging on to a shirt until help arrived. The last acts of the first half followed as Hertford held out. All square at half time.

After such a competitive first half, the second half couldn’t be as good, could it? The first exchanges of the second half suggested it would. Some tenacious running from Regan and strong rucking lead to another offside by Teddington. Benjamin took a quick tap on our own 10m line and Will and Sam P combined to break. A well timed, flatish pass from Sam P to Sam F lead to Sam F showing good pace to scoot in down the left, evading tackles. He scored the bonus point try under the posts. The conversion was a formality for Aaron. 24 -17

Befitting such an intense and hard fought game, Teddington came straight back again, some better first up tackles may have stopped a try on the left, which they failed to convert. Bonus point to Teddington. 24 - 22. Good pressure from Hertford was not converted and again strong running from one of Teddington’s quality players, lead to try number 5, conversion missed 24 - 27

The Hertford scrum remained a weapon all game and more scrum pressure lead to a break on the left through Lenny and a 5 meter scrum to Hertford. Phase play through the forwards lead to Aaron going under the sticks for his hat trick try. A successful kick, and with only 5 or so minutes to play Hertford were 31 -27 up.

Hertford put up some strong defence as Teddington pressed for the win and Hertford turned the ball over under their posts. As Hertford got the ball out it was intercepted by a Teddington player for a try, but it was chalked off for offside. Would Teddington’s tendency to play fast and lose with the offside line, cost them the win?

Hertford cleared from the penalty, but Teddington got a line out in Hertford 22. Too much forward pressure lead to number 6 and Teddington up by the slimmest of margins. 31 - 32.

Hertford worked really hard to get an opportunity with only a minute or 2 left, Rafa tackling like demon. The game ended with some confusion from payers and parents a like, about the final score. Luckily our excellent ref, who managed a free flowing game so well, was on the ball. Your correspondent has used some journalistic licence to get there!!

A real cracker of a game, played in great spirit, by both sides, with everyone contributing. Well done boys and coaches.

Nathan,