Holders Watford Town A will open up the defence of their Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield title will a home tie against the winners of Rickmansworth School Staff and Northwood Town.

A total of 24 teams went into the hat for the competition draw, which was held earlier this afternnon, and the pick of the first round ties is the rematch of the 2011 final when Radlett beat Watford Haidery.

In keeping with tradition, the eight quarter-finalists from last year were seeded through to the second round, while all eight first round losers will qualify for the Plate because the number of entrants meant there was no need for any preliminary round ties. This title is currently held by Watford Grammar School for Boys.

Competition packs will be sent to club contacts in the next couple of days.

Shield first round: Rickmansworth School Staff v Northwood Town; Leverstock Green B v Watford Grammar School for Boys; Watford Haidery B v Met Police Bushey B; Bushey v Langleybury B; Radlett v Watford Haidery A; Aldenham v Chenies & Latimer; Watford Town B v Kings Langley; Aldenham School v Abbots Langley (to be played by Friday, May 17).

Shield second round (seeds in bold): Watford Town A v Rickmansworth School Staff or Northwood Town; Punjabi Panthers v Leverstock Green B or Watford Grammar School for Boys; Watford Haidery B or Met Police Bushey B v Hemel Hempstead Town; Bushey or Langleybury B v Chipperfield Clarendon; Radlett or Watford Haidery A v Langleybury A; Aldenham or Chenies & Latimer v Met Police Bushey A; West Herts v Watford Town B or Kings Langley; Leverstock Green A v Aldenham School or Abbots Langley (to be played by Friday, May 31).