Radlett will start the defence of the Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield with a home tie against the winners of Met Police Bushey and Watford Town B.

The draw for the first two rounds of the area's premier limited overs competition took place yesterday and other highlights include last year's runners up, Abbots Langley, facing Leverstock Green A in round two while West Herts will open their campaign at home to Bushey.

A total of 20 teams will participate in this year's Shield and Plate and in keeping with tournament tradition, Radlett and Abbots Langley were among the eight quarter-finalists from last year to be seeded through to the second round.

Owing to the number of entries dropping by two from 12 months ago, four teams were given a bye through to the second round.

The eight teams to qualify for the Plate will be the four first round losers plus the four beaten second round losers with the worst net run rate.

Club contacts will receive their competition packs by the end of this week.

Shield Round One (to be played by Friday, May 15): Met Police Bushey v Watford Town B; Frogmore v Aldenham; Bye v Bushey; Watford Grammar School for Boys v Rickmansworth School Staff; Leverstock Green A v Bye; Kings Langley v Hemel Hempstead Town; Watford Haidery B v Bye; Langleybury B v Bye.

Shield Round Two (to be played by Friday, May 29 - seeds in bold): Radlett v Met Police Bushey or Watford Town B; Frogmore or Aldenham v Leverstock Green B; West Herts v Bushey; Langleybury A v Watford Grammar School for Boys or Rickmansworth School Staff; Abbots Langley v Leverstock Green A; Kings Langley or Hemel Hempstead Town v Chipperfield Clarendon; Watford Town A v Watford Haidery B; Langleybury B v Watford Haidery A.