Watford 20 - 13 Hatfield - 03-12-05 |
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Watford resumed league action this week with a hard fought victory over Hatfield. The home team started on the attack very quickly, whilst the Hatfield defence held firm. Watford attacked through both the forwards and backs to try and get over the try line, but the away teams defence held firm. In what was their first visit into the Watford half, Hatfield were given a penalty which they converted to take a surprise 3 – 0 lead... This shook the home team and in the very next attack were awarded a penalty, which scrum half Maney converted to make the score 3 – 3. From the resulting kick off Watford went back on the attack and were camped on the away teams goal line after good bursts from the forwards, notably the back row of Sharpe, Mitchell and Patterson. In what looked like was going to be score from the home team, the Hatfield centre flew off his line and intercepted the pass to run the full length of the pitch to score a try, which was converted to give a score line of 10 – 3 to the visitors.  Dave Mitchell - Man of the matchThis was the first time that the home team had been behind in a home league game this season, and after a rousing speech from skipper Nelson, the home time again went on the attack from the kick off. With some great line out work by second row Moore, Watford were able to progress downfield and from an attack on the left hand side of the pitch, a neat inside ball from fly half Traxon to backrower Sharpe gave him the chance to break through 2 tackles and touch the ball down for a try. Mandy converted this to give a half time score line of 10 – 10.With the game evenly poised, both teams knew that the first score in the second half was vital. Almost straight from the restart the away team were given a penalty just on the 10 metre line, which was kicked to put the away team in front again by 13 – 10. This was a jolt to the home team who had to dig deep into their powers of belief that their league campaign so far had given them. Watford made their first substitution at this point with Hicks replacing hooker Sedgley who had performed well. The away team were looking to spoil any decent ball that the home team were trying to generate, which lead to the home team playing to their strengths and playing percentage rugby. A second substitution was made with the returning Ross replacing winger Portway who had had another fine game. The forwards were starting to get control, notably through Man of the Match Mitchell, who was making ground every time he touched the ball. With the forwards exerting pressure a scrum was awarded to the home team some 8 metres out from the away teams’ goal line. With the front row of Vincent, Hicks and Nelson being ably supported by the second row of Moore and Stevens Watford managed to push their opponents all the way back over their try line which left a simple try to the Watford number 8 Patterson. With the conversion hitting the post and rebounding out, the score line was now 15 – 13 to Watford. The home team were now in control and were determined to make sure that they kept the lead that they had worked hard for, but were forced into a reshuffle in their backs as fly half Traxon had to leave the field and with the only substitute left being back rower Wadey, all the backs moved in a position so that Cox was now the emergency flay half. The game became a bit scrappy, with the home team looking to push on for another score and the away team defending resolutely and clearing their lines when possible. The final score of the game came after the Hatfield winger was penalised for verbally disagreeing with the referee, who marched the away team back a further 20 meters from where the initial indiscretion took place. The home team kicked to the corner, and from the resulting line out drove the away team back for their number 8 to score his second try of the game. The conversion was missed to give a score line of 20 – 13 to the home team. The away team made one final effort to score a try which if converted would give them a draw, but sound defending from the Watford backs enabled the ball to be cleared and the final whistle to be blown to give the home team another win. Team: Vincent, Sedgley, Nelson(c), Stevens, Moore, Sharpe, Mitchell, Patterson, Maney, Traxon, Portway, Cox, Van Bosch, De Klerk, Jenkins. Subs used Hicks, Wadey & Ross |
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