After disappointing defeats in their opening two games of the season, Hertford ground down Harpenden to dominate the game in front of the Hoe Lane crowd. The season had opened with a tough game against a strong Oundle team that will go on to do well in the league, which was followed by an under par loss away at Shelford as the team were not able to continue their first half performance and failed to score in the second half. Thank you, Billy Windsock, for providing the pictures, which are certainly worth a thousand words, but it would still have been nice to have some exegesis of the games.

With a new season we have seen a couple of entirely fresh faces (including Fin Sutherland of Welwyn stock who debuted with a powerful try against Oundle), the welcomed return of Lloyd Davies and Christy Basra, and the unretirement of cross generational Josh Corcoran. All of them had a substantial impact against Harpenden. We have also seen the emergence of two of the Colts breaking into the 1st XV in Taite Williams and Francis Ogboru.

On Saturday there were also debuts for Elijah Brizendine from the USA, and James Thacker who has spent a year coaching the team and finally got the opportunity to run out with them in a league game. Both of them scored on their debuts and played their part in dismantling the Harpenden team. Brizendine was pacy and energetic throughout, and Thacker – a big bulky ball playing second row - was heavily involved in many of the best phases of play and was able to encourage some good expansive rugby.

Before the good stuff however, Hertford had to get on top of a lumpy Harpenden pack that had come to try and scrum and maul Hertford off the pitch. There is more work to be done in this area, especially in stopping lineout rolling mauls, and that is how Harpenden scored first after 7 minutes after lots of pressure to make it 5-0.

Straight from the restart, Brizendine pressurised the Harpenden catcher deep in their 22, allowing Hertford to counter ruck and secure possession. Banna powered out wide, before the ball was taken down the centre by Thacker, and Basra was on hand to burrow through the tackles and touch down between the posts. Windsock's picture does not capture the gleaming smile of satisfaction from the front rower.

Harpenden turned the pressure on again and pushed Hertford back with a series of scrum penalties, and set themselves up for another 5 metre rolling maul. A great turnover gave Hertford possession, and Alex Kay did the hard yards to drive us out of the Hertford hole (something he did a number of times in the first half), allowing Davies to kick to the halfway line. Corcoran then forced a charge down, and had the Harpenden winger pedalling backwards.

With some possession, Davies was able to widen the play and got the Hertford backline to threaten Harpenden. On one occasion, Davies broke the line and put Gilchrist through, who showed impressive pace to charge into the Harpenden 22.

Hertford were beginning to make life difficult for the Harpenden set piece play, and Corcoran in particular was a nuisance in the tight showing his strength. On about 28 minutes, Corcoran crumpled the Harpenden scrum half, securing possession, and allowing Hertford to break again into the Harpenden 22, where Basra charged through. The ball made its way to the jinky Brizendine, who stepped inside and then powered through the double tackle to score to make it 12-5.

In a crucial phase of the game, Hertford took control and repeatedly went through the phases sparking half opportunities. Captain Jones did an audacious chip through, which none of his front row colleagues should ever attempt, that almost came off; and Hale then also chipped through, which Banna collected under his arm like his bag of tatters nickname. Time and again opportunities were being created. One of these phases gave Thacker an opportunity to gallop down the touchline deep into the Harpenden 22, floating the ball back inside to the supporting player. With Harpenden reversing quickly, they conceded the penalty rather than let Hertford recycle the ball. The lineout was taken, and a smart set move created lots of space for Jones to dot down out wide for the last play of the half. 17-5 and Herford had established a well deserved buffer.

Going downhill in the second half, Herford continued to dominate possession and territory. After several probing initiatives, Thacker powered through forlorn tackles as he just stretched over the line with three people hanging off him (As evidenced pictorially). With the conversion, Hertford were 24-5 up.

Harpenden fought back at this point, creating some momentum and baiting No. 9 David Hale enough to slap away the ball. Hale took a 10 minute breather, and Harpenden exploited the numbers to score out wide to make it 24-10.

Swift entered the fray, creating momentum through some forceful direct battering ram play, and Hertford went wide again with Thacker releasing Sutherland (and then taking what looked like a late hit, ending Thacker's afternoon), and Kendrick then scything through the Harpenden defence, before playing in Tracy who galloped in under the posts. A great combined contribution from the three second rows on the pitch, making it 31-10.

With Hale's time serves and back into the fray, Davies was again able to orchestrate from fly half. Hertford continued their relentless attack, Hale interplayed with Brizendine back and forth down the right hand side to get well behind the Harpenden defence. The ball was passed back to the left, where there was a four man overlap, but Banna smelt glory and those outside him became spectators. The Bannaman opted for route one and Hertford were 36-10 up.

There was just time for Gilchrist to show his pace again as he cut through from 40 metres out to score Hertford's final try, making it 43-10.

This was a very solid performance with lots of attacking intent, and the team have finally got their season going.

There are some visible improvements obvious in terms of creativity and flair but also some key technical areas where we need to show progress to consolidate and move up the league table.

The next few weeks include games where the results will dictate whether sides will be concentrating on those above them or below them after the Christmas break, so lets keep the great support going.

The 2nd XV were also winners, 33-29 away to Chelmsford, and the Termites beat Hitchin 34-19. Ole.

Team: Ogboru, Jones (c), Basra, Thacker, Tracy, Banna, Corcoran, Kay; Hale, Davies, Sutherland, Rudling, Gilchrist, Brizendine, Kendrick

Teammates: Hewitt, Swift, Galvin

Tries: Basra, Brizendine, Jones, Thacker, Tracy, Banna, Gilchrist

Conversions: Kendrick 4

Player of the March: Rudling