Eastern Counties Under-20s started their county championship campaign with a 47-20 win over Middlesex at Cambridge RFC.

Counties opened the scoring after four minutes when the backs shipped the ball wide for full-back Ayrton to cross the line. Burgess followed a minute later before Middlesex reduced the deficit with a penalty and a try. Counties finished the half with a third try from Portsmouth and White made it three conversions from three before the visitors finished the period with a try from Hodgekinson

After the restart the forwards drove Bixby over early in the half and Portsmouth, from the home club, got his second try ten minutes in. Two further try's from Baxter and Stapleton completed the scoring for the hosts before the visitors added a late consolation try.

Eastern Counties' next match is against Essex at Colchester on January 22.