Barnet Elizabethans surrendered their unbeaten start to the Herts/Middlesex League 1 season, and second place, after losing 19-11 at Old Millhillians on Saturday.

The Elizabethans were guilty of wasting their limited possession, although both teams were equally disappointing, and the Elizabethans’ defence was similarly below-par at times as OMs ran in three tries to one.

A loose BE pass led to the final Millhillians’ score, which was intercepted with ease and allowed the hosts to run through unnopposed and score an unconverted try.

BE had by then reduced the arrears to 12-11, with Toby Smith scoring, but the final pass in the build-up to the score saw the conversion lined up too wide to be completed.

Two earlier penalties by Harry Eade had kept the Elizabethans in contention but the reality was BE were not playing well enough collectively to make a serious case for taking the points.

Shane Kyriacou, Luke Williams and Lloyd Morgan emerged with some credit for BE after two early defensive errors had allowed a pair of OM tries either side of half-time to put the home side in control.

The Elizabethans travel to the Bank of England on Saturday in their next fixture.