Welwyn 17 – 0 to Watford

Watford buoyed by their previous week’s victory against Old Haberdashers warmed up for this Saturdays league game against Old Grammarians with a hard fought victory over a Welwyn team that play at a much higher level. The game kicked off with Watford having the wind at their backs and the away team showing their intent by running the ball straight back and keeping hold of it through numerous phases looking to get the early score.

Luckily the home teams defence was not found wanting but were camped in their own half too long for their liking. The away team then suffered an injury that led to their player having to leave the pitch, and with no replacements one of the home teams, Gary Bridge offered to play for them.

Watford started to get their game plan going and with decent ball being supplied from the line outs by Rob Moore and Matt Sharpe Watford started to make inroads. The first score of the game came after a break by Butcher, who fed Number 8 Mark Patterson to score his second try of the season under the posts. The easy conversion by scrum half Simon Maney made the score 7 – 0 to Watford.

Watford were now on the front foot and what looked like was going to be the next score was ruined by indiscipline which led to winger Craig Wadey being sin binned and the penalty reversed on the away teams try line. Watford managed to contain the away team whilst they were a man down and Wadey made amends almost immediately by scoring a try in the corner after good work by the Watford backs, notably outside centre Peter Cox.

With Maney missing the conversion the score was 12 – 0 to Watford. With the Watford pack managing to secure good ball from the scrum as well as the lineout the final try of the game came after good work by the forwards. Quick ball led to Creed making a break and feeding back rower Leon de Klerk to score a try to follow up last weeks Man of the Match award. With the conversion again missed by Maney the ref blew his whistle to leave the final scoreline as 17 – 0 to Watford.

Captain Peter Nelson was happy with the defensive effort but no with the way the game started. He made it known that the same performance this week will not be good enough if Watford wish to keep their winning run going in the league.

Team: Hickey, Sedgley, Nelson(c), Stevens, Moore, Sharpe, De Klerk, Patterson, Maney, A.Kiely, T.Kiely, Chapman, Cox, Wadey, Jenkins. Subs all used: Dunlop for Stevens, Butcher for A.Kiely, Creed for Chapman.