Watford Edge Opening League Game

Watford began the brighter of the two sides, with the pack absolutely dominating the set piece. Mill Hill struggled to escape their own half, with the visitors scrum in particular coming under intense pressure from the front row of Bees, Philpott and Nelson. The hosts soon opened the scoring, a turnover scrum seeing Ollie Hopkins release Tom McGee to score under the posts. A second was soon added, Arron Connolly stealing a Mill Hill line out which was subsequently driven over the whitewash by returning Captain Martin Lee. Watford were perhaps guilty of allowing complacency into their game, and the visitors began to enjoy greater territory and possession. Ollie Hopkins was sent to the sin bin for a swinging arm, soon followed by flanker Luke Hammill who was somewhat harshly judged to have made a late tackle on the opposition fly half. Mill Hill frequently picked and went around the fringes of the breakdown, drawing in the Watford defensive cover before working the ball wide. After numerous phases the visitors scored their opening try. They were soon on the attack again, spilled ball in the Watford midfield seeing a sprint for the line. Watford were indebted to an excellent cover tackle by Scott Menzies, who then won a penalty at the subsequent breakdown which helped preserve the advantage. The hosts finished the half as they had begun it – a dominant scrum in the Mill Hill 22 was collapsed just short of the line, the ball recycled to second row Jon McClennon who scored from close range.

Despite playing nowhere near their best rugby, Watford were within sight of a four try bonus point. However, Mill Hill’s well structured game plan was causing the hosts problems. The second half followed a similar pattern to the half. Unfortunately for Watford, despite dominance at the set piece they all too regularly conceded penalties and territory at the breakdown, making the second half a much more even contest. Mill Hill opened the scoring for the period with a well struck penalty, before adding a try to bring themselves within a point of Watford. Soon afterwards, the visitors lost their hooker to the sin bin for fighting, however despite being down to 14 men it was the away side who were able to score. In a terrible ten minute spell for the hosts, Mill Hill took the lead after miscommunication in the Watford back line led to the ball being spilled. Going behind for the first time in the match roused Watford, who used their advantage in the tight to drive their way up the pitch. A sustained period of pressure in the Mill Hill 22 yielded no points, with some dubious refereeing at the scrum ensuring the visitors remained ahead. Excellent Mill Hill defence then prevented a try from a close range maul, before Paul Dunlop crossed the line after good work from Andy Lee with only two minutes left on the clock.

Watford can consider themselves lucky to have escaped with a win, and must surely improve if they are to threaten the top of the table come the end of the season. That said, their unbeaten home record in the league now stretches to 18 months and they can be pleased with the character shown in coming back in the dying moments. Watford’s next game is away to West London in the league, K.O 3 pm.

Watford 1st XV: Bees, Philpott, Nelson, Kingsford, Jenkins, Connolly, Hammill, M. Lee, Hopkins, McGee, Diston, Dunlop, P. Wilson, Menzies, Butcher.

Subs: G. Wilson, McClennon, A. Lee

Tries: McGee, M. Lee, McClennon, Dunlop

Cons: McGee x 1

Man of the Match: Luke Bees. Could have been any one of a fine front row effort, however Luke edges it based on his excellent work in the loose.