The Herts Festival saw us in a group with Harpenden, Welwyn, & Tabard.

It was a bitterly cold Sunday at Harpenden & Mothering Sunday no less – so well done to the parents & especially the mums for getting the boys there.

Our first game saw us play Welwyn & despite the efforts of the coaches to warm the boys up we were our usual slow starters & allowed the opposition to run in four first half try’s (in only 7 minutes!). They did have a prop forward who wouldn’t have looked out of place 3 or 4 age groups above - & whilst not the quickest did take 2 or 3 of our boys to slow him down.

A ‘motivational’ half time team talk clearly worked wonders & the boys all raised their game in the second period – we defended well & ran in a try of our own to lift the spirits. Welwyn didn’t even look like scoring in the 2nd half, but we couldn’t add to our solitary score so lost 4 – 1.

Our second match (which came after an interval of over an hour & a half!) saw us take on the hosts Harpenden. We again let them score first & run up a half time lead of 4 try’s to nil.

Back we came in the 2nd half with an early try, but Harpenden responded with one of their own to leave the final score 5 – 1 in their favour.

That left us to face our old friends Tabard who we have played 3 times this season, narrowly winning one, narrowly losing one & drawing our latest encounter (although we did lend them 3 players that day).

So an eagerly anticipated match (just an hour in the cold to wait for this one) & needless to say it was Tabard who scored first – but after we had had most of the territory & possession in the first half, with their speedy elusive winger going virtually the length of the pitch after Tabard turned over the ball well inside their own half.

Yet again we went into half time with a deficit on the scoreboard – but this time only 1 down. Into the 2nd half & at last our pressure told when we burrowed over the line from close range to level the match. Now the boys were ‘up for it’ & grabbed a 2nd to take the lead when we turned over Tabard ball in their half.

A nervous couple of minutes ensued for the coaches & parents until the final whistle – whilst we had the Tabard team well marshalled & contained there was always the danger of a ‘breakaway’ score as before, but the boys held on for a well deserved victory.

At this stage everyone was only too happy to head back to the warmth of their cars.

Harpenden topped our group winning all 3 of their games - & the only try they conceded was against us, going through to the semi’s where they lost to the eventual winners OA’s A team (who beat Hitchin A in the final).

Welwyn came 2nd, we were 3rd & Tabard 4th in the group.

Its probably worth mentioning that in the U12 B team/Shield competition, Verulamians (who we have beaten twice this season) made it through to the final where they lost 4 – 1 to Hertford B’s.

Whilst they took time to warm up & get going, the boys all seemed to enjoy themselves (as usual) & the snow just about managed to hold off.