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The Hertfordshire/Middlesex Merit Tables were created in 2002 to provide all those rugby sides from the Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Buckinghamshire County Unions, which were not playing in the Rugby Football Union National Leagues or other merit tables, an opportunity to play in a competitive structured competition. The clubs are generally located in an area within 20 miles of the triangle formed by the A1/M1/A505.
The teams participating are normally the 2nd, 3rd and 4th XVs of clubs, although several smaller clubs have entered their 1st XVs. The Merit Tables are also used as a starting point for newly formed clubs to demonstrate their playing and administrative abilities before being accepted into the RFU League Structure. In 2012-13, it seems that the tables will have grown to accommodate nearly 80 sides, a far cry from the 10 sides that took the plunge in 2002.
Finals Day Action - 21st April 2012
This year the finals were spread across three grounds at Cheshunt, Harrow and The Mount Rugby Clubs. Twenty eight sides played their hearts out to prove why they should receive a Knock-Out Competition winners trophy or a plate trophy and with the weather staying relatively fine a great day of rugby ensued. The winners of this season's Merit Tables, which finished at the end of March also received their winners plaques.
Apart from the five hundred plus players, there were teams of three provided for almost every game by the Hertfordshire and London Referees Societies, presentations made by Colin Haslam, Hertfordshire Rugby President at Cheshunt, Brian East, Middlesex Deputy President at Harrow, and Tim Bonnett at The Mount, hundreds of supporters and the amazing teams of volunteers from the hosting clubs, but not forgetting Bryony and Foggy Atkinson who ran the show at Cheshunt, while I enjoyed my afternoon at Harrow.
Fred McCarthy
Merit Table 1 Champions, Hampstead 2nd XV, celebrating their victory
over Old Albanians 3rd XV
Nifty handwork by Hemel Hempstead 3rd on their way to beating Hertford 6th
A mixture of youth and experience saw Welwyn 4th squeeze past
Old Millhillians 2nd by just one point
A clean heel on it's way by Hitchin 2nd in their game with UCSOBs....
....but UCSOBs 2nd ended up victorious and celebrate their win
New boys Black Horse collect their first trophy in the
Herts/Middx Merit Tables from Colin...
....while Chesham 3rds show that the Buckinghamshire lads are also victors
Brian thanks one of the many referees at Harrow...
...and those at Cheshunt also get into the picture
Last game finished and a long season of Merit Tables is put to bed....
.....it was a tough game but this time next year we'll be winners.
Fred McCarthy
Organiser
Hertfordshire RFU
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