From The Sidelines - is an occasional comment on the action on the pitch by members of WRFC’s fan club. It does not reflect the official view of WRFC

London French 56 Watford 0

On the face of it this looks like a good thrashing. But the trusty seven fans that made their way down to SW13 were not overly disappointed. We all know WRFC are going through a transition period, very similar to our neighbours in Conningsby Drive. They have had a difficult couple of years but are now coming through and picking up some good results. We still have a way to go, but if our youthful team apply themselves to regular training and commitment as Fullers have done, I believe part way through next season we should be in a similar position about half way up our table.

London French, backed up by a plentiful supply of subs were attacking Watford from the start and did not let up throughout the game. To Watford’s great credit they stuck hard to their job and the tackling was probably the best the fans have seen this season. I wonder if we had been able to attack them in the same manner, would their tackling have been as effective as ours, I doubt it.

Watford did have a few forays into Le Bleu’s 22 metre but unfortunately without reward. A couple of times we did look dangerous, but up against the second best team in the league I think we all knew the outcome before we left WD24.

But let’s put this in perspective, the teams that we can realistically compete with in our league are those below London French and against those teams we have accounted for ourselves reasonably well (only loosing by an average of 7.3 points per game) As I commented in my previous missives with just a bit extra commitment from ALL the players we could easily be mid table.  So lets forget this game, get to training and with the help that we are going to get with coaching from the Ickenham coach Alan Williams we can get easily to a mid table position next season.

I was standing under the sticks at about the seventieth minute that I became aware from Mr Wilson Snr. that we only started the game with 14 men. My wife Gail did not even know till after the game. So that can only demonstrate how well the players did in covering the gaps and with one player leaving the field injured and another hobbling around we were effectively playing with twelve men at the end. So what on paper looks like a good thrashing to some, to me looked like a truly valiant effort by those that made the trip and put on the red, white and blue shirts with pride.

Finally if you look at some results from the last few weeks at sides some five leagues above us it puts things in perspective e.g.

Old Hamptonians 65 - 0   Old Ashmolians
Diss           10 -  66 Jersey
Old Albanians     55 - 0 North Walsham
Portsmouth       0 -  48 Hertford

Hopefully you get my drift. So heads up and let’s finish off the season with a couple of wins and this will be history, soon to be forgotten.

Best wishes for the next encounter.

The fans

well said mr kiely. we did work hard yesterday and am sure everyone is feeling it now. 2 pluses from yesterday, we showed that we have an excellent lineout (not only securing our own but disrupting at least 80% of oppo’s) even with first choice hooker out and missing key lifters. secondly we showed that even in the 80th minute we are willing to go at the oppo and attack. I would like to thank the die hard fans who have to watch us play games like that, knowing your on the sideline does make us galvanise and try to put some points on the board. the last 2 league games are at home so we have a good end to the seasonup next hatfield in three weeks followed by thamesians on the 10 april. I would also like to point out that the french side yesterday were not the french side we have met previously i think only two players were french and they were alot younger than before. i would guess that there were a few university ringers having a run out.

[Watford 17 - 11 Hatfield

Last October your correspondent made the following statement in one of his regular missives on this site

“I sense the sweet smell of the green shoots of recovery at Knutsford Road”

Well perhaps he was being a bit over enthusiastic or premature, but after watching last Saturday’s game at Knutsford I think some of the foundations of recovery had been laid back in October. There have been steady improvements in the performance of the team culminating in a very good, sound display against what was a strong and determined Hatfield side that had won the last two encounters.

Watford were under pressure for the first ten minutes but there was an air of quiet confidence about the team. The supporters could sense this and it was not long before Watford opened their account with some very good moves which resulted in two converted tries.

The key point about this game was that no team ever gave up the possibility of victory and both fought to the end. During the last ten minutes Watford were under extreme pressure and made a colossal amount of tackles to hold the line, where perhaps at the beginning of the season we may have collapsed.

It was good to see the ex President of the Herts RFU and now the Chairman of the Competitions committee David Williams at the game, who assured me that what he witnessed was far better than both our league positions suggested.

Well done Watford - the fans are eagerly awaiting the visit of Thamesians.

Happy Easter to one and all.

From The Sidelines (aka Fanzone)

Is an occasional comment on the action on the pitch by members of WRFC’s 150 strong fan club.  It does not reflect the official view of WRFC

The Glorious Watford 38   Thamesians 8

Well what a cracking finish to the 1st XV league fixtures. Thamesians were a good outfit finishing a vey respectable 4th in the table with 7 wins, (unfortunately one of those wins being against us) and presumably hoping to finish their campaign with 8 wins.

Even with Thamesians opening the scoring Watford were in no way phased, as we usually like to lull the opposition into a temporary sense of security, before we deliver the killer sting. It wasn’t long before the ball was despatched to Lenny who demonstrated to them the power of youth over age and treachery by speeding past his opposing winger and headed for the sticks for the first of his well deserved two tries.

This was the start of possibly Watford’s best performance of the year with many more points to follow with great tries coming from Messrs James and Reeve, who had a very good afternoon with the boot. Even with a conversion attempt hitting the upright the ball fell the right side to earn a further two points. You make your own luck.

Oh I forgot some other bloke, known to his mates as “greedy” Martin scored. He made a break and threw a dummy pass to Lenny cut in and raced like a gazelle to the haven of the sticks for a try, whereupon the oxygen tent was immediately despatched for his revival. This was truly a malicious act, if he had done the right thing he would have passed to Lenny who would have run in his third try and would have had to buy a jug for all the boys.

Thamesians knew that they were up against it from early on in the game when they realised the age profile of the Watford side was vastly younger than theirs. Watford’s team is probably the youngest in the league and Watford ran them ragged for long periods of the game.

Surprisingly Thamesians rallied in the last 15 minutes to put Watford under sustained pressure. Watford’s tackling was spectacular with many try saving tackles; unfortunately Thamesians did manage a try and probably deserved it for the long period of time that they camped in our 22 at the end of the game. But this game was won well before this and Watford really did hit form. The interesting point to note is that there were a number of changes in the team from our last league game, which we won, and we still looked very good, which only goes to show that we are now approaching what looks like a very strong squad as contenders for the 1st XV.

The Herts RFU President John Drew, attended this match and before the game said that he had watched a number of Herts/Middx league matches this season and never saw a Hertfordshire team loose to a Middlesex team yet. He was not disappointed and said after the game “what an exciting game it was to watch”. This probably did us no harm in the eyes of the Herts RFU executive.

Well done all the players – a great game -  the tackling was excellent, the running and support was great. Roll on next season in the new league.

The next edition of From the Sidelines will appear after the 2XV trip to Tring in a couple of weeks, which I’m sure will be another great day for Watford.

Keep up the training and see you all at Tring!

The fans

PS can anyone come up with a good name for the fans?

The Watfordistas
The Wilsonites
Knutsfordians
Knutsfordistas

I wasn’t being greedy Steve, the complete opposite! Knowing that Lenny was a student and therefore skint I just couldnt bring myself to give him a pass which would have surely bankrupted him :-D.

Results Over The Season.

Saturday, 19 September 2009 – Lost Away
Thamesians 18 - 10 Watford

Saturday, 26 September 2009 – Lost Home
Watford 5 - 21 Old Tottonians

Saturday, 10 October 2009 – Lost Away
Ickenham 28 - 13 Watford

Saturday, 24 October 2009 – Lost Home
Watford 17 – 21 Pinner & Grammarians

Saturday, 14 November 2009 Lost Away
Cuffley 15 - 0 Watford

Saturday, 05 December 2009 – Lost Away
Watford 0 - 20 London French

Saturday, 02 January 2010 – Lost Away
Hatfield 14 - 12 Watford

Saturday, 23 January 2010 – Won Away
Old Tottonians 0 - 3 Watford

Saturday, 30 January 2010 – Lost Away
Pinner & Grammarians 25 - 14 Watford

Saturday, 13 February 2010 – Lost Away
Watford 5 - 51 Ickenham

Saturday, 20 February 2010 – Draw Home
Watford 14 - 14 Cuffley

Saturday, 06 March 2010 – Lost Away
London French 56 - 0 Watford

Saturday, 27 March 2010 – Won Home
Watford 17 - 11Hatfield

Saturday, 10 April 2010 – Won Home
Watford 38 - 8 Thamesians

The results say that we got better as the season went on. It would also look like with the exception of London French and Ickenham (the best teams in the league) we could take any other team.

Given the average age and experience of the players in our side, these results are something to be proud of as it shows definite improvement over a season.

Next season should be something to look forward to and with a possible restructuring of the leagues anything is possible.

Gents, although i have purposely kept away from the senior side of the club this season (those that know me hopefully understand why)  i have still kept a keen eye on how the season has been going.

From what i can see the age of the squad is the youngest it has been for quite some time (apart from the old war house Mr Mitchell - keep going mate ).

Over the course of the season progress has obviously been made. Where tight games were lost at the begining of it they were turned into victories towards the end. This shows an inner belief and great mental attitude. A hard pre season, with all taking a full part, should mean that the progress made this season will mean that you hit the ground running next and hopefully winning.

I have had my time away and plan to join the fans on the side line next season, as long as Mr Kiely does not come up with too silly a name for them…........

Onwards and upwards guys, enjoy tour and god help Newquay!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Mandy

Mr Steve Kiely would please be able to let the other watfordistas know that the cup final is at tring for 1.30 ko on pitch 2 if there coming that is thankyou.

take as done captain, I will of course be reporting on the game

love u

Mr Keily

How about “The Knutters”???

p.s Im an avid reader of “From the Sidelines” keep it up, its top notch work!

A day in the country

Sorry I’m a bit late with my report, but after such a cracking game on Sunday your correspondent decided along with some fans and ex WRFC players, somewhat later in the evening to venture into downtown Tring to the seedy bars and nightclubs, known as the Twilight Zone, where men are ehhh well you know the rest , anyway just got back from rehab.

It was a really good game against a very tough and robust Enfield side who I noted made liberal use of the boot, especially when we were on the floor. Watford was playing some very positive and enjoyable rugby throughout the first half.  It seemed whoever scored the first try would win the game.  Half time it was 0-0 and I thought then with Watford having the younger and fitter side we would take the game.  I think it was about 47 minutes before the breakthrough came and unfortunately it was Enfield that scored.  The 2nd’s fought very well and put in some great tackling, which now seems to be a WRFC trademark, but it wasn’t to be and Enfield won the spoils, scoring a few more tries. Nevertheless it was a really good effort from the 2nd’s.  But it’s worth mentioning that Watford 2nd xv have regularly featured in these finals – it surely must be their year for success next season.  Well done!

Looking at the point’s differential for the 1st xv this season we scored 148 and the opposition scored 302. We must remember that the top two clubs (who may yet be promoted) put 155 of those points on us. So if we concentrate on the rest of the teams in the league we scored 130, against 147, a difference of 17 points which equates to an average of 1.7 points per game deficit, which is not much to fix next season.

WRFC for the last few years have been through what has probably their most difficult seasons on record.  I think it’s a great tribute to all those players and captains (and their helpers) past and present who throughout this period have got out sides each week in extremely difficult circumstances and never let the club down.

From a slightly worrying start to the season I (and the fans) felt since about last October things started to pick up.  Gradual improvements took place with some good rugby being played culminating with 100% success in the last two league games which were well deserved and very exciting to watch.

Other key success stories are the tour with about thirty plus players turning out to the West Country.  As we only run two teams that is a magnificent turnout, probably the highest ratio of tourists to players on record.  With last Sundays trip to Tring and plenty of fans turning up for that occasion to cheer the boys on, it was the first time for many a year that we have had a coach trip to a game, things are now really starting to improve.

In summary, the fans now fervently believe that WRFC is definitely back on the rugby scene.  Have a break from rugby in the summer and come back hungrier than ever with all guns blazing.  The fans feel that a mid table target for next season is easily achievable.

Well that’s it for competitive rugby for this season. A fun game for next Sunday and I’ll see you all next season

Best wishes

The Stags, the Watfordistas or whoever we are.