Tabard proved too strong for an enthusiastic Fullerians side on Saturday to win the Herts Presidents Cup for the 11th time.

Tabard first won the Cup 20 years ago and on the anniversary of this first win they notched up exactly the same margin of victory.

Fullerians had a strong pack but in Tabard they had met their match, and this rather restricted Fullerians game, although they battled well to start with and could have had an early score, but a long penalty dropped just short.

Fullerians and Tabard then mounted attacks at their opponents, but good defence stifled these, although Tabard's pressure took them into the Fullerians half from where they eventually put the first score on the board.

From a scrum near the line the Tabard pack drove their opponents back and, after a long look, the referee awarded the push over try with second row Mike Finnie claiming the honours. Full back James drew converted.

Fullerians replied with a penalty five minutes later from stand off Tom Clayton, to narrow the gap, and Drew then kicked one for Tabard to bring the half time tally to 10 points to three in Tabard's favour.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with Tabard controlling the forward play and Fullerians running the ball under pressure enabling the Tabard defence to cover, with especially good defence from centres Louis Botha and Peter Luders.

Twelve minutes into the half Tabard moved the ball quickly down the line and, despite some despairing tackles from the Fullerians defence, wing Peter Webb was over in the corner and Drew added the conversion.

In the last quarter Drew stretched Tabards lead to 20 points to three with another penalty. However, Fullerians spirit remained unbroken and they kept Tabard at bay until injury time, when number eight Ron Matthews picked up at the base of the scrum and forced his way over for the score which Drew converted.

TABARD: Drew, Webb, Luders, Botha, Valentine, Bassino, Stringer, Lockwood, Sharp, Bromham, Finnie, Sussum, Johal, Hyatt, Matthews.

Next week Tabard play their last league game of the season away at Camberley, kick off 3pm.

Tabard 27

Fullerians 3

Herts Presidents Cup Final