Devon suffered a disastrous weekend in the County Championship as they were relegated from South Division One.

After a series of first team players pulled out, an inexperienced Devon side were thrashed 53-21 at Hertfordshire.

The win was Hertfordshire's first of the campaign, but the margin was enough to send Graham Dawe's side down.

As a result Devon, who have contested six Bill Beaumont Cup Finals since 2000, will not be able to reach the final next season.

Albion's Gary Kingdon, Ed Lewsey and Tom Skelding all pulled out before the tie, so coach Dawe was forced to call up a swathe of youngsters, including three from Ivybridge College.

Hertfordshire wing Ian Crompton led the onslaught against Dawe's men, scoring a hat-trick of tries as the home side dominated.

With Cornwall also losing at home to Gloucestershire on Saturday, the South Division One table finished with three of the four teams only winning one match.

Devon's relegation into South Pool Two came as a result of their inferior points difference, thanks in part to the 32-point margin of Hertfordshire's win.

Having won all three of their games, Gloucestershire will go on to contest the Bill Beaumont Cup final against Lancashire at Twickenham.

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