Watford 2nd XV 47 - 20 Welwyn -- 29/10/05 |
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Watford 2nd XV commenced the game looking a bit light in the forwards,
though they felt that if they could achieve parity in the set pieces
the potential in their back division ought to create them more than
enough points to see them home safely. The first half went on in this
vein with Welwyn picking and driving and trying to gain the hard yards
through the middle, whilst Watford looked to be more progressive and
launch their backs whenever possible. After about ten minutes full back
Frankish scored in the right hand corner after simple hands moved the
ball down the line from a scrum and the home cover was stretched. The
conversion was slotted home by Healy and Watford were seven points to
the good. The rest of the half was poor from a Watford point of view as they seemed to sit back and let the home side play in their half. A string of sloppy penalties were conceded and Welwyn were able to score three points in front of the posts followed by two unconverted tries. This took the score to 13-7 to the home side and they absolutely deserved the lead with Watford being pushed back in the scrum and struggling to secure their own ball in the lineout. Watford were also putting themselves under pressure and making silly mistakes, spilling ball, making poor decisions and not playing the way they have shown they are capable of. However just as half time dawned, Jack Reilly decided to run himself from the back of a scrum near half way, before splitting the cover and teasing his way past the full back to score just to the left of the posts. Healy capably converted to make the half time score 14-13 to Watford something they scarcely deserved. Watford's pack got their act together in the second half and laid the platform for the backs who managed to score five further tries. Tucker scored a powerful brace down the right wing, blasting defenders aside with ease, though the second owed much to a great assist from his fly half Reilly. Reilly himself could have had a hat trick and made a further two outstanding breaks, both led to scores for Healy. The first was kicked through and the bounce snatched the try from his grasp to that of the pacy inside centre's. For the second try Reilly was tackled just short of the line and manged to pop it up for an easy run in for Healy under the posts. Possibly the most pleasing score of the day was left winger Rose's first senior try for the club, it was created from inside his own half by centre Jenkins (the only back not to get on the score sheet!) who weaved and strutted before offloading to Rose who pinned his ears back and showed great pace to finish off a spectacular score. Disappointingly the final act of the day was a dart from the back of the scrum by Welwyns 10' which made the final score 47-20 to Watford as the conversion was added. Though the backs took the plaudits, they would not have been able to do so without the scrummaging coming together in the second half, and the more competitive line out that was put together after the strong words from pack leader Reilly at the interval. Though the younger Reilly had an impressive game and will be sorely missed in the future hopefully the core of the side will remain to ensure skipper Thompson's unbeaten run continues as long as possible. Watford - Dennis Reilly, Vincent, Jones, Andre (Nelson), Davies, Smith, Mikey, Sharpe, Thompson, Jack Reilly, Rose (Portway), Healy, Jenkins, Tucker (Charles), Frankish. Tries Healy (2) Tucker (2) Frankish Jack Reilly Rose Conversions Healy (6) Man of the Match - Jack Reilly Report by Andy Frankish |
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