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Watford commenced the game in the most positive manner possible by catching a long kick off, the forwards drove up through the middle into the Welwyn half and the ball was moved through the threequarters to the right wing. As there was no way forward the ball switched inside and went through multiple further phases before the ball was finally grounded to the left of the posts by prop Hickey.
It was a hugely entertaining energetic opening by the home team who must have involved at least ten pairs of hands in the move that led to the opening try. Further scores followed in the first half by skipper Thompson battering his way over from the back of the scrum and a long range effort from inside centre Johnson. Watford unfortunately relaxed and conceded a try through weak tackling just before half time, this made the interval score 17-5 to Watford.
The second half eventually led to total Watford dominance as they scored another five tries, two further (one long range) for Johnson, one for each wingers Rose and Wedlake and one for number 8 Olsen. Four of these scores were converted by Johnson to give him an impressive personal points tally of 25 for the day, however Welwyn's forwards never gave up and secured a second try through some aggressive mauling from an attacking line out, this took the score to 50 -10 to Watford.
Watford's victory looked impressive on paper, however the form will have to be sustained for next weeks' Merit Table encounter with top of the table Harrow, at least they started strongly for a change and didn't give themselves the usual deficit to pull back. Special praise must go to the Watford scrummage which never took a backward step and made it a painful and dispiriting afternoon for their opposote numbers.
Watford - Hickey (Reilly), Vincent, Nelson, Andre, Sharpe, Bridge, Rose, Olsen, Thompson, Kiely, Wedlake, Johnson, Burgess, Mikey (Hicks), Frankish.
Tries
Johnson (3)
Hickey
Thompson
Olsen
Wedlake
Rose
Conversions - Johnson (5)
Man of the Match - Thompson
Report by - Andy Frankish
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