Watford 15-13 St. Nicholas Old Boys

Man of the Match: Andy Lee

Watford resumed league action this week with a hard fought but ultimately well deserved 15-13 victory over visitors St. Nicholas Old Boys. The victory was even more impressive due to the wholesale changes made and players playing out of position due to mass unavailability’s.
 
The visitors took the lead with almost their first visit into Watford’s half with a penalty to make the score 3 – 0. On their next visit they scored a try and the conversion would have taken the score to 10 – 0. However outside centre Paul Wilson attempted to charge the conversion down and did enough to put the kicker off but he also managed to damage his hamstring and was replaced by veteran flanker Gary Bridge. This led to a reshuffle with Chris Jenkins moving from his usual flanker position to outside centre. The rest of the half was even contested with no further scores it was 8 – 0 at the break to the away team.
 
The first score of the second half was always going to be crucial and it went to the home team. Indiscipline led to Watford being awarded a penalty which scrum half Jamie Traxon kicked to the corner. From the resulting line out a clever move allowed prop Gary Wilson to score in the corner. The conversion was missed to make the score 8 – 5 to St. Nicholas Old Boys. This score galvanised the home team and they started to look threatening every time they got into their opponents half. Solid defensive work from man of the match Andy Lee at inside centre made sure that the visitors didn’t break through. The nest score came from number 8 Paul Fagan, who touched down after a good scrum pushed the opposition back. With the conversion again missed the score was now 10 – 8 to Watford. The next score came from a St. Nicholas Old Boys scrum. Pressure from Traxon allowed flanker Jamie Smith to pick up the loose ball and touchdown.  With the conversion missed the score was now 15 – 8 to Watford. The final score of the game was to the away team after indiscipline from the home team. Thankfully the conversion fell short leaving the final score as 15-13 to Watford. Club Captain Simon Maney commented that it was a fantastic turnaround in the second half and credit must go to all those that played in this game as this was a mixed team with untried combinations. The effort, commitment and team spirit were the vital components to a thoroughly deserved victory.
 
Team: G Wilson, G Hicks, B Jones, R Flint, S Hill, J Smith, C Jenkins, P Fagan, J Traxon, P Naylor, D Bartram, A Lee, P Wilson, J Portway, A Frankish.
 
Sub: G Bridge used for P Wilson.
 
Watford travel to Hatfield this Saturday in the Herts Presidents Trophy, with kick off being at 1.30pm.