Watford 36 - 27 Welwyn 3rd XV - Saturday 20th January 2007 |
|
Watford went into this game, which was the first since new coach Ian Matthews had been able to bring in new ideas, hopeful of being able to implement these and stop the losing streak that they had been in. Right from the kick off Watford went on the attack and with the forwards securing good ball the backs were getting plenty of opportunities to run at their opponents. Fine handling by prop captain Peter Nelson and second row Jon Stevens led to the ball being fed to Peter Cox who went in by the posts to register the first score of the game....... .......The conversion by fly half Jamie Traxon meant the score was 7 - 0 to Watford with barely a few minutes on the clock. Continued pressure and fine off loading going to hand meant that the next score was not far away. Flanker Leon De Klerk was on had to support a break and used his strength to score by the posts. The conversion by Traxon made the score 14 - 0 to the home team. Watford were taking confidence from the start they had made and the 3rd score of the day was by winger Cox for his second of the game. A move involving both forwards and backs with centre Quintas Van Bosch making inroads led to the score and with Traxon converting the score was 21 - 0 to Watford. A mix up in the home teams defence let Welwyn in to score just before half time in one of their rare attacks. Watford went back on the attack and a move starting with a break on one side of the pitch finished with De Klerk scoring his second of the game in the opposite side of the pitch. The conversion was missed which made the half time score 26 - 7 to Watford.The second half began with Watford playing into a strong wind which the away team utilised by kicking for the corners knowing that the strong breeze would take the ball further. Resolute fringe defence by the forwards meant that the away team were not able to make ground and turnovers were being forced. Fatigue started to affect the home team which led to numerous penalties from technicalities which eventually resulted in the sin binning of Nelson and full back Ian Butcher. The away team managed to score a total of 20 points either side of Watford winger Jon Portway scoring a fine try under the posts after good work from hooker Mark Hicks and flanker Ian Matthews. The conversion by Traxon took Watford to 33 points with the away team sensing that they may be able to snatch a win with the home team down to 13 men. With Watford restored to their full complement they went on the attack and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Captain Nelson elected to take the points which Traxon duly kicked. The final whistle went to leave the final score as 36 - 27 to Watford. The home team were glad to have finally broken the losing run but were also aware that indiscipline let the away team back into the game. Watford next game is a vital league game away to Old Grammarians with a group of teams fighting to avoid the one remaining relegation spot that is still available. Team: Hickey, Hicks, Nelson(c), Stevens, Sharpe, De Klerk, Matthews, Patterson, Maney, Traxon, Portway, Ivan, Van Bosch, Cox, Butcher. Sub used Wadey for Patterson |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|