Watford Lose at League Leaders

The visitors started brightly, the Watford pack marginally in the ascendency and making good ground around the fringes of the breakdown. For the first 15 minutes, the scores remained tied until Hillingdon worked the ball wide to score in the corner. This would become a recurring theme - Watford looking their most threatening whilst keeping the ball tight, the hosts looking to put width on the ball at every opportunity. Hillingdon showed that there is no substitute at this (or indeed any) level for well executed basics and raw pace, and despite the pitch bearing a more than passing resemblance to a swamp they proved their lead at the top of the league was more than deserved. Half time score 30 odd points to nil.

The second half saw a much better performance from Watford, no doubt inspired by the introduction of second team captain Pieface Hicks. George has asked me to mention the following about his performance: 1) He threw most of his lineouts straight, and also (just) remembered to run on the ones he was meant to run on 2) he carried more ball in this game than he has done playing an entire season for the seconds for a total of 3 metres and 3) Inspired by Dan Cole’s return to international action, Pie managed to lean on five consecutive rucks (a new P.B).

With nothing to lose, Watford threw caution to the wind during the second period and were soon rewarded with their first score. Perhaps inspired by Hillingdon, the visitors gathered the re-start and looked to immediately move the ball wide. Butch has asked me to mention that he was the one who threw the final pass, but all credit for the score goes to the man who touched down - Richard Yates. Gathering the ball in his own half Yatesy beat about four or five of the opposition players, organic anchor ploughing a furrow behind him as he scorched under the posts for a superb individual score.

This annoyed Hillingdon, who scored a couple more of their own.

At this point the Watford pack decided to play 8 man rugby, and very fun it was too. Highlights included a 30 metre maul which earned a penalty after cynically being pulled down, along with a well deserved try for man of the match Luke Hammill who had an absolutely storming game in both attack and defence. With under a minute on the clock from the restart, the Watford 8 went through their ‘Ainsley’ routine – picking and driving around the fringes, occasionally allowing scrum half Ollie to pass to them to again attack round the fringes before attacking round the fringes once more just to freshen things up. With time well up, the visitors continued to march up the field – think Munster against Northampton in the 2011 Heineken Cup (41 phases – felt like we went through at least double that). Realising they had no chance of getting the ball in the back line, Yatesy and Butch came in to join the fun as well. Under the assumed agreement that it was ‘next try wins’, Watford refused to lay down and continually dragged themselves off the deck to make the hard yards – absolutely exhausting given the state of the pitch and the fact we were well into extra time. After a Hillingdon infringement, Ollie tapped and went but was held up over the line, bringing proceedings to a close.

Watford 1st XV: G. Wilson, Philpott, Nelson, Kingsford, Hancock, Connolly, Hammill, M. Lee, Hopkins, Bram, Yates, Butcher, Smith, McGee, P. Wilson

Subs: Greyling, Hicks, Mainwaring

Tries: Yates, Hammill

Cons: McGee

Man of the Match: Luke Hammill. Could easily win the award every week, another all action display. Tackled and carried himself to the point of exhaustion, inspiring the best from those around him.

WotW: Gary Wilson. Tried to kick the ball when in the middle of the park, missed it and turned over possession. Thankfully the Hillingdon WotW tripped himself up when clean through!