Watford 5 – 36 Millwall | EDF Jnr Vase Rd 2

Man of the Match:

Watford bowed out gracefully against Essex 2 side Millwall in the second round of the EDF Junior Vase as Millwall scored 3 tries in each half.

For the first 20 minutes a much changed Watford side held their own and played their rugby in the Millwall half.  The younger Watford forwards dominated the ruck and maul and initially held steady in the scrum turning over some promising ball.  Watford’s early pressure had Millwall worried. Watford should have taken an early lead but Captain Simon Maney failed to convert a penalty from some 30 meters out.  Slowly the more experience Millwall side began to play their fast support game and their drilled forwards took control of the scrum.  Good secured ball was fed to their eager back line.  From a scrum 5 meters out on the left the ball was spread wide to the opposite wing for their right winger to score an unconverted try close to the corner.  Two further tries one converted gave them a 17 nil lead as they began to take control.  Watford were guilty of trying to over elaborate a simple game plan.  Watford came again and pressured the Millwall line and replied as No. 8 Martin Lee powered through from a 10 meter penalty to leave a half time score of 5 – 17 to the away side.

A few enforced changes were made at half-time as injured hooker Paul Dunlop was replaced by veteran campaigner Mark Bennett who brought his guile to the front row and forward exchanges, and debutant Stephen Hill was replace at Second Row. Watford fought hard and pressed the Millwall side all the way but made more errors then their opponents.  Watford where caught wanting as their youth and inexperienced showed.  Millwall score 3 tries in the last 20 minutes, the last resulting in the last kick of the game and with two converted Millwall deservedly won this game 5 – 36.

With a rest week this coming Saturday Watford can re-group for their next league encounter on the 11th October against Cuffley.

Team: G Wilson, P Dunlop, B Jones, I Davis, S Hill, J Smith, R Flint, M Lee, S Maney, T Kiely, P Wilson, S Gillies, J Traxon, S Tucker, P Jenkins – subs M Bennett, C. Jenner, D Bartram