Abbots Langley will be aiming to make a successful start to the defence of their Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield at Watford Town B after the draw for the first round was made.

The Gallows Hill Lane club, who won the limited overs competition for the first time in their history with a five-wicket victory over 2017 champions and village neighbours Kings Langley last summer, are in the bottom half of the draw and victory in the first round will see them visit the winners of Chipperfield Clarendon and West Herts B in the quarter-finals.

A total of 16 teams went into the hat and in keeping with competition tradition the eight quarter-finalists from last year were seeded.

Herts League Premier Division big guns Radlett and West Herts A have been drawn to meet in the last eight if they get through their first round ties, against Watford Town A and Fourteen14 Plate holders Watford Grammar School for Boys respectively.

Owing to the number of entrants for this year’s Shield, all eight teams defeated in the first round will contest the Plate competition.

This year’s Shield final is due to be played at West Herts on Wednesday, July 10, six days after the Plate final is staged at Abbots Langley on Thursday, July 4.

The organisers wish to thank these two clubs, together with semi-final hosts Chipperfield Clarendon and Kings Langley, for again kindly allowing their facilities to be used for the competition.

Competition packs will be sent via email to all club contacts within the next 24 hours.

The full first round draw is (to be played by Friday, May 24 – seeds in bold):

Radlett v Watford Town A

Watford Grammar School for Boys v West Herts A

Leverstock Green A v Kings Langley

Aldenham v Watford Haidery

Chipperfield Clarendon v West Herts B

Watford Town B v Abbots Langley

Langleybury v Bushey

Leverstock Green B v Aldenham School