Watford Rugby Club Secured Promotion

Watford secured their first ever promotion this week with a hard fought victory away to Hatfield. The home team were aware of the implications of the result for Watford and seemed more determined than ever to try and spoil any party. Watford started the game at a great pace, looking to get on the score board early and settle any nerves.

They were camped in the Hatfield 22 for the opening 10 minutes, but the final pass kept going astray preventing a score. The home team managed to relieve the pressure and took the lead against the run of play with a penalty near the half way line. This made the score 3 – 0 to the home team. Skipper Peter Nelson rallied the troops and reminded them to stay calm and to keep playing the way the have been.

Hatfield got the final score of the half when they kicked the ball downfield and managed to put pressure on full back Peter Jenkins and charge down his attempted clearance to score their only try of the game. With the conversion being missed the half time score was 10 – 8 to Watford.

Head Coach Mick Mealing Senior gave the half time talk in a calm manner, which he wanted the players to reflect on the pitch. He wanted the team to play to their strengths and be confident with the ball in hand. With the first score of the second half being vital Watford went on the attack straight from the kick off. With the back row of Mark Hicks, Dave Mitchell and Patterson making headway every time they touched the ball, it was becoming difficult for Hatfield to get out of their own half.

Their scrum was now under pressure and Watford disrupted it every time, with numerous turn-overs of possession. The first score came Watfords way, and was scored by centre Peter Cox. Fly half Ian Butcher was starting to control the game with the amount of ball he was getting. A fine move involving him and the other centre Quintas Van Bosch led to Cox stepping inside the full back and touching down. With the conversion added by Simon Maney, the score was now 17 – 8 to Watford. The away team wanted more, but Hatfield to their credit never gave in and stuck at it for the whole game.

With the pack now completely dominant, with Man of the Match second row Sharpe taking quality ball in the line outs, it was no surprise when Patterson drove over from another scrum to complete his hat-trick. The conversion was missed again, to give a score line of 22 – 8 to Watford. With the away team in control, coach Mealing started to make substitutions, with Andy Kiely coming on at full back for Jenkins, Jon Portway coming on for winger Gavin Wedlake and Mike Dawe coming on for scrum half Maney. The changes made no difference to the way Watford were playing, and the final score of the game was probably the best of the game.

The forwards made ground on the right hand side of the pitch, and quick ball to Butcher meant all the backs got their hand on the ball before winger Leon De Klerk dived in at the corner. With the referee signalling that the conversion attempt was to be the last play of the game, number 8 Patterson wanted to see if he could top his day with the conversion. Alas for him he missed and the referee blew his whistle for full time. This led to deep joy and much jumping up and down from the Watford team as they realised that they had secured second spot and the vital promotion that was their goal at the beginning of the season.

Captain Nelson commented "Today all the hard work and determination on the field reflected the input of every single club member, both players and non players that has put us in this fabulous position. We now have to make sure that we continue to build on our success for next season."

Team: Hickey, Sedgley, Nelson(c), Stevens, Sharpe, Hicks, Mitchell, Patterson, Maney, Butcher, Wedlake, Van Bosch, Cox, De Klerk, Jenkins. Subs all used: Andy Kiely, Portway, Dawe.