A depleted Gloucestershire were outgunned 46-19 in their second county championship pool match against Hertfordshire on Saturday.

Hertfordshire scored eight tries to Gloucestershire’s three at Hertford and it means the county’s hopes of a place at Twickenham have been dashed for another year.

Hertfordshire were quicker, stronger and more precise and seldom looked threatened.

When the Gloucestershire scrum began to creak just before half time having already conceded five tries, it looked as if they were in for a complete drubbing in the second half. In fact the second half, after initial wobbles, was a more respectable performance.

Hertfordshire opened the scoring through inside centre Sam Winter on five minutes followed five minutes later by probably the try of the match by the home number nine Tom Banks who weaved his way to a great individual try. Banks was lively throughout and had he had his kicking boots on could significantly have enhanced Hertfordshire’s score.

At the start of the second quarter Sam Goatley made a terrific 80-metre break from inside his own 22 – in itself it deserved better than an attacking scrum – but it allowed Gloucestershire a platform and after more good work from Goatley and Ross Webb, Barney Goatley forced his way over for a try which James Moffatt converted.

But two minutes later Barnes was allowed in at the other end and any hopes of a recovery were extinguished.

First-half injuries to Jack Robson and captain Matt Lane, who soldiered on until half time, didn’t help but in truth Gloucestershire seemed to be outmuscled and this was evident with two scores in the last five minutes of the first half which both came as the result of forward pressure and a weak Gloucestershire scrum.

Within five minutes of the start of the second half Gloucestershire had allowed Hertfordshire to score two more tries and it looked bleak. But with the bench now being deployed Gloucestershire stemmed the tide and eventually took the fight to Hertfordshire scoring tries through Mike Addis and Alex Gibson with Moffatt converting the last score.

Nev Codlin added some grit and determination from the bench and Ross Webb and Lewis Beer were tireless throughout playing themselves almost to a standstill. Sam Goatley, at times, seemed to be Gloucestershire’s only attacking threat.

On Saturday Gloucestershire face Surrey, who lost 18-17 to Kent, in their final pool game at Lydney (3pm).

Attendance: 450

Referee: Philip Davies