With both sides having made strong starts to their campaigns, the stage was set for a cracking game and those on the sidelines weren’t disappointed. In a high scoring match, it was Quins who scored first. Watford failed to deal with the kick off, and possession was turned over. Despite a last ditch tackle from flanker Luke Hammill, the ball was recycled and worked wide for the visitors to score in the corner. Watford came back strongly, and won a penalty of their own after the visitors were judged to have strayed offside. Debutant Simon Bram scored his first points of the afternoon with a simple kick from in front of the posts.

Unfortunately Watford’s restart wobbles resurfaced straight away. All credit to the Harlequins kicker, who was constantly accurate and put the home side under a great deal of pressure. The ball was once again spilled, Quins capitalising and Watford soon found themselves two tries down with only ten minutes played.
Fortunately this roused the home team, who put together a string of phases to make inroads into the oppositions 22. Strong carries from David Kingsford and Laurence Philpott saw Watford win a penalty 20 metres from the line. Rather than kick for the corner, the home side ran the ball and a fine pass from Bram found Paul Dunlop running a superb line to score under the posts. The extras were added to make the score 10-14 to Harlequins.

Whilst the scrum was an equal contest with both sides winning their own ball, Watford were enjoying the better of the lineout, James Powell in particular managing not only to secure clean ball for the home side but also disrupting plenty of Quins throw ins. From a stolen lineout Watford charged up the field. A series of carries from the pack made inroads into the Quins 22, before Ollie Hopkins popped to lock David Kingsford running a hard line. Kingsford broke two tackles, but agonisingly knocked on with the line at his mercy. The Watford pack exerted a huge amount of pressure at the resulting scrum, resulting in sloppy ball for the Harlequins fly half which was spilled in the in goal area. Paul Dunlop, harking back to his days on the flank, was the quickest to react and pounced on the loose ball to score his second. Extras added, Watford were now in the lead.

Unfortunately, this was not to last. Another hanging restart was won by the visitors, who immediately went on the attack again. Watford were uncharacteristically weak in defence, going too high in the tackle and failing to recognise and deal with overlaps out wide. A combination of these errors allowed the Harlequins winger in for a simple try on the stroke of half time which was duly converted.

Knowing their unbeaten record was on the line, Watford started the second half strongly and soon took the lead after No 8 Martin Lee peeled off the back of a maul and crashed over the line to score. Unfortunately for the hosts Harlequins then went on to score three tries of their own in quick succession the pick of the bunch being an excellent solo effort from the visitors no 8. With only 20 minutes left, Watford attacked with a renewed frenzy, and were unlucky not to score after the visitors cynically pulled down a rolling maul which looked destined to finish with a try. From the resulting penalty Captain Lee tapped and went himself, barrelling over for his second try. With time running out, substitute Stuart Mainwaring found himself with space on the wing and scored under the posts after a lovely side step.

Now within six points, Watford pressed forward with fresh belief that the great escape was on. In such a tight game, tempers flared up slightly with one or two scuffles breaking out, surprising given how open the match was and what a great spirit it had generally been played in. Winning a penalty after the latest altercation, the home side had no option but to tap and go, bravely running the ball with the last play of the game. After steadily advancing and going through numerous phases, the ball was unfortunately knocked on giving Quins the win.

Whilst there are positives to be taken from the game, Watford will be incredibly disappointed with their porous defence. Having registered try bonus points in all their games so far this season, attack is clearly not the issue. Credit to Harlequins, who were deserving winners and will certainly be pushing for a top six spot come the business end of the season.

Watford 1st XV: Bees, Philpott, Nelson, Kingsford, McClennon, Powelly, Hammill, M Lee, Hopkins, Bram, Diston, Dunlop, A. Lee, P. Wilson, Butcher

Subs: Flint, Hancock, Mainwaring

Tries: Dunlop x 2, M. Lee x 2, Mainwaring

Cons: Bram x 3

Pens: Bram x 1

Man of the Match: David Kingsford. Has been a rock for the 1st XV this season, and put in another excellent showing. Unlucky not to get a try after a strong run, excellent in both the tight and loose. A real asset at second row