Refreshed after enjoying a break the previous weekend and having enjoyed two very well attended and intense training sessions in the build up to the game, Watford flew out of the blocks and were on the attack immediately. The breakdown issues which had blighted the fixture at Isleworthians were addressed, forwards and backs hitting rucks at pace and with power in order to generate quick ball for scrum half Mark Hill. The gain line was soon broken, Andy Lee thundering through the midfield before offloading to supporting fullback Josh Wilkinson. With cover coming across, Josh surprised everyone (not least himself) by throwing a sweetly timed pass out to winger James Braun who finished in the corner. Wilkinson continued his fine form with the boot, adding a difficult conversion to put Watford 7-0 up.

Watford were in the ascendancy, the set piece providing is usual platform while Lee and Holloway were forces of nature in the centres, regularly carrying numerous opposition defenders with them when on the charge. It took a piece of superb individual skill for Watford to score their second, James Horrocks notching what surely must be one of the best tries of his career. The flanker found himself in space just inside the opposition half, threw a dummy and then stormed up the pitch. With cover coming across, Horrocks shrugged off the would be tackler to dot down, Wilkinson once more adding the extras.

Slightly frustratingly, Watford went into their shell somewhat for the next 10 minutes and allowed West London to control possession and territory. That said, it was especially pleasing to see the defensive patterns we have been working on put into practise, the home sides struggles to make any meaningful inroads showing that when we concentrate and communicate we are incredibly tough to break down.

Having repelled West London, Watford were once more on the attack. Once again, Holloway and Andy Lee made inroads, the forwards then picking and attacking around the fringes of the breakdown to make the hard yards. The ball was worked wide, second row Jon McClennon picking a nice line to score a try his all round contribution over the last few matches has thoroughly deserved.

With the bonus point in sight, Watford scented blood and were on the attack almost immediately from the restart. Some of the interchanges between the forwards and backs were a joy to behold, everyone equally comfortable in possession regardless of the number on their shirt. The ball eventually found its way to Wilkinson, who dotted down to bring up the Watford bonus point.

This served to rouse the home side, who for the remainder of the half laid siege to the Watford line. Some outstanding hits went in, notably from Luke Bees who made a textbook hit on the opposition no 8 to ease the pressure. Unfortunately, the visitors lost Paul Dunlop to the sin bin after an infringement at the breakdown, the Watford line finally breached with the last play of the half.

With the bonus point in the bag and a man in the bin, it would have been easy for Watford to play within themselves during the second half. Instead, they scored arguably the best try of their season so far immediately from the kick off. James Powell fielded the restart, who then offloaded to McClennon. What followed was a series of offloads and supporting lines which were more akin to a 1970’s Barbarians side than Watford. The end result was James Horrocks dotting down for his second after every single Watford player was somehow involved in the build up.

Somewhat bafflingly, Watford were reduced to 13 men soon after scoring (no one is entirely sure why, the referee was convinced that with Paul in the bin we were obliged to drop another… go figure) but that didn’t halt the red white and blue machine. In all honesty, West London didn’t look like scoring in the second half, we could and perhaps should have added more than the two further tries we did register.

The first of these went to Sam Holloway, who thoroughly deserved it after a barnstorming performance at 13. Watford were then harshly denied a Horrocks hat trick after he picked and went through the middle of a ruck, before Martin Lee dotted down after a typically dominant drive by the pack.

Final score was 45 – 8 to Watford, who will feel that points were left out there despite the result. The side are really starting to gel now in both attack and defence, and some of the rugby played this weekend was a joy to behold. This weekend we host unbeaten table toppers Saracens Amateurs, in what is sure to be a huge test for us. Kick off is 2:15, all support very welcome!

Man of the Match: Andy Lee. Absolute wrecking ball when in possession. Constantly drew defenders to him, when not smashing people out the way had the awareness to release supporting players. Close run thing with Sam Holloway, who was equally destructive in the centre.

WotW: Paul Dunlop. Gave it the biggun about not giving away penalties and then got binned.