Despite missing up to 8 first team regulars, the home team showed their strength in depth by starting the stronger of the two sides. Watford were relentless at the breakdown, showing a huge improvement from the previous weeks efforts at Woking. This allowed quick, clean ball for scrum half Ollie Hopkins who controlled his pack well around the fringes to make good ground in the middle of the park. With ten minutes gone the ball was worked wide to prop Luke Bees, who found himself with a two on one against the Croydon winger. Showing excellent awareness, he threw a sharp dummy before crashing through the full back to score. Watford were soon on the scoresheet again. Winger Luke Diston continued his excellent run of form with a well taken finish, before fly half Tom McGee scored one of his own. Croydon came back into the game strongly – despite Watford’s pack having the edge in the loose, the visitors held a slight advantage at the set piece and it was from an excellent pre planned move at the lineout that they opened their account. Watford finished the half with another score, Richard Yates opening his account for the season with a fine score in the corner.

The hosts continued the second half in the same manner with which they finished the first. Croydon knew that they had to score the next points in order to give themselves a chance of victory, and threw everything at the Watford line. There were some noticeable contributions during a ten minute period of intense Croydon pressure, notably from Dave Kingsford, Sanchez Philpott and stand in skipper Luke Hammill. With the visitors inching ever closer, a stray pass was gathered by Diston who showed an electric turn of pace to run the length of the pitch and score his second. The game was effectively over, yet Watford continued to attack – and their next score is surely a contender for try of the season. The restart was gathered by Mike Jenkins, having an excellent game at lock, on the Watford 22. The ball was fed out wide, going through multiple Watford hands before finding Yates who was tackled by the full back. Possession was retained, and quick ball found Arron Connolly who scored under the posts. Yates soon followed with a score of his own before Diston completed his hat trick with an excellent individual effort. Having been fed by Menzies, the winger beat his opposite man before chipping the full back and winning the subsequent race to ground in the corner.

Watford can be proud of an excellent performance from the entire squad. Having learnt the lessons from the previous game at Woking, the players stuck to a game plan and upped their work rate around the park – most noticeably at the breakdown, which was dominated by the home side. With numerous first team regulars back in training this week, competition for places is sure to be fierce – a welcome situation to be in.

Watford 1st XV: Bees, Philpott, Nelson, Kingsford, Jenkins, Powell, Connolly, Hammill, Hopkins, McGee, Yates, Braun, Menzies, Diston, P. Wilson (Cox 50)

Tries: Diston x 3, Yates x 2, McGee, Conolly, Bees
Con: McGee x 4

Man of the Match: Luke Diston. Constant threat with the ball in hand, has cemented first team wing spot. Scored a well deserved hat trick, and has genuine pace which is sure to trouble most sides.