Old Millhillians 49 – 13 Watford RFC

After a successful season last year that culminated in Watford achieving their first ever promotion, an under strength team travelled away, to play Old Millhillians for their first league game of the new season. The game started at a frantic pace which was never going to be sustained due to the heat. Watford dominated the first part of the game but could not convert their pressure into points.

The home team in nearly their first attack managed to scored in the corner with the conversion being missed the score was 5 – 0. Watford went back on the attack and the home team were forced to give away a penalty in front of the posts which scrum half Simon Maney converted, which made the score 5 – 3 to the home team. The rest of the half seemed to continue in the same fashion with Watford’s pack gaining dominance with in particular Mark Chapman playing on the flank, and the line out functioning with good throwing by hooker Paul Dunlop and catching by second rower Rob Moore and flanker Matthew Sharpe.

The home team managed to score a further try and Simon Maney converting a further penalty for Watford by to leave the half time score as 12 – 6. The second half kicked off with the home team stepping up the pressure. Although Watford were showing good heart and winger Leon De Klerk was making ground every time he touched the ball the fact that the team was not at full strength eventually started to tell and the home team started to score unanswered points. An injury to fly half Ian Butcher led to yet another reshuffle which left the back line open to attacks at will.

With the score at 49 – 6 and time running out Watford attacked the blindside with Sharpe and returning No 8 Mark Patterson who fed Maney who passed inside to the ever supporting prop and captain Peter Nelson who made a burst for the line, drew the cover and passed inside to replacement winger Scott Dunbar who touched the ball down for a debut try. The touchline conversion by Maney just made it over with a little help from the crossbar to leave the final score at 49 – 13. This was not the start that Watford had hoped for but has proved to of been a valuable lesson of what will be required this season at a higher level.

Watford have their first home league game of the season this Saturday when they play local rivals Chess Valley. Kick off is at 3.00pm.

Team: Hickey, Dunlop, Nelson(c), Moore, Stevens, Sharpe, Chapman, Patterson, Maney, Butcher, Wadey, Cox, Ossowski, De Klerk, Jenkins. Subs used: Mealing Snr, Dunbar.