The much-anticipated Potters Bar derby will begin with the two teams as far apart as is possible in the Herts Cricket League Premiership.

Potters Bar lead the way after eight games, their latest success a seven-wicket win over third-placed Totteridge Millhillians.

They will make the trip to Old Owens on Saturday with the hosts languishing at the foot of the table having won just once this term.

They weren't too far away from making it two though as they fell to a two-wicket loss at Hertford.

Owens had batted first on winning the toss and made an imposing 235 with skipper Brad Lane getting to 98.

He struggled to find company though as only Trystan Kennedy (19), Jack Timms (41) and Rhys Carter (37) reached double figures.

After an early breakthrough in the reply, Jack Bloxham taking a wicket in the fourth over, Hertford seemingly had the contest under control, reaching 94 when the second wicket fell and 129 before the third.

That took 32 overs and left them 107 short with 23 overs to go and even after three wickets in five overs, Hertford still had three wickets in hand by the start of the final over and needed just three runs.

They got one off the first ball but Jake Whickham then bowled three dots as well as taking a wicket.

The final delivery was edged away for four though to give Hertford the win and leave Owens distraught.

Bar's victory was altogether more serene.

They bowled Millhillians out for 254, Anmol Maheshram taking 6-72 with 3-46 from Luke Chapman, and they eased to victory in 49 overs, all five batsmen who played scoring runs.

Maheshram's 38 was the lowest of them while Reece Hussain smashed another 73.

James Seward (46), Steve Gale (44*) and Charlie Scott (39*) were the others.

Knebworth Park won by just eight runs against Old Finchleians in Division Two B, in a match that saw a total of 580 runs scored in the 100 overs.

Park batted first and made 294-5. Louis Champion and Haydon Bartlett-Tasker put on 150 for the first wicket before the latter went for 35.

Champion's day finally ended with Park on 189 and him on 119, crafted from 107 deliveries and containing 19 fours and four sixes.

There was still 62 from Charlie Randall to come as well and Park felt they had an unassailable total.

They did in the end but only after a remarkable stumble from Finchley in the last few overs.

They had set off like a train with 28 from the first three overs and 103 for Chetan Depala

Dave Roberts took a brilliant diving catch on the boundary to put the brakes on slightly at 154-3 before taking 2-35.

It seemed a minor blip though until skipper Matt Hutchinson turned to his pace attack. 

And once Gareth Jones and Kobie Richmond found their rhythm, the game changed dramatically.

Fincleians managed just four in the final over, Richmond claiming two wickets to finish on 2-48 with Jones on 1-24.

The second team lost by 14 runs to Hemel Hempstead in Division Six A.

Jack Randall was the pick with 3-50 while there was aa wicket for U15 Rafi Combarro as Hemel ended on 231-6.

Captain Mark Woods (36) and Adam Sergeant (35) got the reply off to a steady start with an opening stand of 68 but they soon collapsed to 100-6.

James Bedford and Jack Randall stemmed the flow of wickets for a bit before Bedford fell for 16 and then Combarro chipped in, putting on 48 for eighth wicket.

Randall was the man out for a well-crafted 47 and despite a late flurry, then finished 217-9.

The thirds beat Datchworth thirds by five wickets in Division 10 North.

Will Nash top scored for Datch with 42 but 3-10 from Ryan Ellis kept them in check.

He then hit an unbeaten 52 alongside 47 not out from James Hobbs to get home in the 35th over, recovering from 73-5.

David Mantle took 4-28 as the fourths beat Tewin thirds by three runs.

Park had managed 116 batting first, Adam Hassall hitting 28, and he also chipped in with two wickets as the bowled Tewin out for 113.

Jon Taylor was their top scorer with 35.