Battle for Watford

Watford Grammar are through to the second round and a home tie with RichardHale from Hertford but they were made to work hard for their 25-5 win atHitchin Boys School in wet, slippery and windy conditions.

David Soulsbyput them ahead after 11 minutes with a penalty and Fred Priggs establishedan 10-0 half-time lead with a try, converted by Soulsby. Second half triesfrom Soulsby, Neil Cronin and Tim Bone confirmed Watford's superiorityespecially up front but Hitchin fully deserved their consolation try fromtheir right winger.

There was drama at Hertford accompanied by hail andthunder as Simon Balle snatched a dramatic victory over St Edmund's, Ware.The visitors scored early but two penalties from Simon Smith closed the gapbefore half time and he was the hero with a winning drop goal in the dyingseconds.

Bishop Stortford High School will provide a real test now althoughSimon Balle are at home.

In the same half of the southern draw Ted Smeethcollected four tries as Gresham's from Norfolk played some crisp rugby todefeat a tenacious Fakenham College 50-0. In the bottom half, Gunnersburyfrom Brentford scored a a try under the Cardinal Vaughan posts in the lastminute to trail just 16-15 and then missed the conversion.

Sean Reid kickedthree penalties and converted Anthony Creese's try for Cardinal Vaughan whonow travel to Enfield to face St Ignatius.