Wasps 34 - 5 Watford - 28-01-06

Jon Jenkins made his first start for the 1st team this season at fly half and centre Steve Thorne made his first appearance for the club. Young fly half Aaron Jones also made his first appearance for the club when he came on as a second half substitute. The home team was much changed from the previous encounter from earlier in the season, with only 2 players who played in the previous game being present.

In place of the other players was an all New Zealand contingent. Watfords pack managed to not only gain parity but also started to disrupt the home team’s set piece play. A close first half that was dominated by forward play came to a close with the score 10 – 5 to Wasps, with Dave Mitchell scoring his seventh try of the season for Watford.

The first score of the second half was going to be vital, and unfortunately for Watford, it went to the home team. With the home team bringing on further antipodean replacements, they continued to attack the away team and with further tries scored, the final score was 34 – 5 to Wasps.

Although Wasps gained the points for the win, they have also been deducted points for failing to fulfil an away fixture, which has been a problem this season for the Wasps. Watford still remain joint second in the league, but really now can’t afford to lose anymore games if they still wish to be promoted at the end of this season, which their early season endeavours deserve.

Watford have a break from league action this week as they take on Hemel Hempstead from the league above them in Herts Presidents Cup action.

Team Hickey, Hassett, Nelson(c), Moore, Stevens, Sharpe, Hicks, Mitchell, Maney, J Jenkins, Dawe, Thorne, Ross, De Klerk, P Jenkins. Subs used Jones & Sedgley.