THREES SUFFER ON THE SCOREBOARD

HERTS-MIDDLESEX MERIT TABLE THREE

A heavy defeat certainly. However, well done at least to the contingent of the fours who stepped up to the plate to cover for absences - some of which were playing three levels up compared to last season - and, at the end of the day, the result is largely self-explanatory.

Not that the threes, many of whom were playing out of position, necessarily helped themselves by starting slowly and there was a certain inevitability about the side falling victim to the pace of the youthful visitors.

Although the outlook was bleak a half-time, the threes were all the better for the introduction of Rob Gardner, Wes Silva and Harry Bowman after the interval, when they registered their sole try of the game via Anthony Clare.

Usually, a forward by trade, Clare had to adapt to line on the wing, but at least the hosts were started to win some good ball for the backs to exploit.

Not was he the only example as Chris Byrne, usually sighted at number eight, drafted-in at fly-half.

Team spokesman John Lestrange said: "We didn't play sensibly in the first-half. However, we had more firepower in the second-half and were able to drive through the forwards more."