Watford RFC 36 – 10 Cuffley RFC - 18/02/06

For the next few minutes Watford had to withstand the home team’s pressure as they looked to build on their early lead. After absorbing the pressure, Watford start to get their game plan going and the Watford pack gradually started to get on top the home team’s forwards. Watfords first score of the game came from the forwards, with great work from a scrum for Watfords top try scorer number 8 Mark Patterson getting the first of his 3 trys for the day. This was converted by scrum half Simon Maney to give the away team the lead, 7 – 5.

With the Watford pack starting to dominate their opponents the Watford backs were desperate for the ball. When they did get it they were looking to attack from all positions, with flay half Ian Butcher showing great control in directing them. The next try came from the same source as the first. With the front row of Trevor Hickey, James Sedgley and captain Nelson being able supported by the second rows of Jon Stevens and Matt Sharpe, they set the platform for the pack to drive their opponents back and number 8 Patterson scored his second of the day. With the conversion missed the score was now 12 – 5 to Watford. With the home team starting to lose their discipline, the next score came from a quickly taken penalty by Butcher. He made the break and fed centre Quintas Van Bosch who made further ground before passing the ball back to Butcher to touch the ball down. With the conversion again missed, the half time score was 17 – 5 to Watford.

The second half began in the same manner as the first finished, with the Watford pack, in particular the back row with flankers Mark Hicks and Dave Mitchell making ground every time the touched the ball, but also managing to snuff out attack after attack of the Cuffley forwards. Watford were looking to turn the screw and the forwards were now very dominant. The next try, his 14th of the season was scored by Man of the Match Patterson, driving over again after good work from the pack. With a further conversion missed the score was now 22 – to Watford. This seemed to give Watford more confidence and the backs were running the ball from even their own try line. Good handling by inside centre Peter Cox led to the ball being spread to replacement full back Peter Jenkins, who had replaced the returning Andy Kiely, who was making ground and being supported by debutant Tom Smith who had replaced winger Jon Portway. The next score was a fine effort from centre Van Bosch, who finished a move involving most of the backs. With good hands and awareness shown by all the cover defence was beaten and the try was scored under the posts. With the conversion being added by Maney the score was now 29 – 5 to Watford.

With second row Sharpe starting to win good ball at the line out, the ball was being passed all over the pitch, with the other winger Gavin Wedlake making ground almost every time he touched the ball. The final pass did not always find the intended recipient, which meant that further try scoring opportunities were not taken. Watford seemed to lose a bit of concentration which allowed the home team to score their second try of the day, which again was unconverted. This made the score 29 – 10 to the away team.

This seemed to annoy Watford who were determined to have the final score of the game. This came from centre Cox after yet more good work from the backs. With fly half Butcher adding the conversion, the final whistle blew to give the away team a fine win, by the score line of 36 – 10. This win takes Watford 2 points clear of Cuffley and now leaves them clear in second position in the league, with only 2 league games remaining. Watford are in friendly action this week, but are looking forward to their next league game away to Hatfield on 4th March.

Team - Hickey, Sedgley, Nelson (c), Stevens, Sharpe, Hicks, Mitchell, Patterson, Maney, Butcher, Portway, Cox, Van Bosch, Wedlake, A Kiely. Subs used P Jenkins & T Smith.