Cosmic Performance Opens League Campaign

The league restructuring meant Watford were playing their first game against Kilburn for many years, and as such the opposition were something of an unknown quantity. One could argue this worked in our favour as it meant the side could focus on our own game plan and structure rather than trying to contain what the opposition may or may not bring.

On a day well suited for running rugby, it was the hosts who started the brightest catching Watford slightly cold to score an unconverted try in the opening five mins. Conversion missed, 5-0 Kilburn.

This didn’t rattle the men from Radlett Road, who went on to enjoy the majority of territory and possession for the next ten minutes. The visiting pack were beginning to gain a real foothold, the front row of Cunningham, Bees and Shapiro dominating at the scrum and giving man of the match Alex Butler quick, clean ball for his back line. Kilburn recognised the threat from our lively scrum half and were resorting to increasingly desperate tactics to throw him off his game.

In the loose we saw some thunderous carries, with the afore-mentioned front row to the fore ably supported by Portway and Matthews. The lineout ran perfectly, McClennon showing all his experience and leadership in what was a near faultless set piece performance.

Despite this, it was Kilburn who were next on the scoresheet with their first foray into the Watford 22 since the opening try yielding 7 points. Credit to the hosts back line, who found themselves against forwards out wide and exploited the mis-match to perfection.

This was the first real test of Watford’s season, two scores down away from home against a hugely experienced side. Thankfully it was a test we passed with flying colours.

Watford came roaring back, skipper Scott Menzies becoming increasingly influential alongside Butler in pulling the strings from 9 ams 10. Dunlop and Richard’s grew into the game, both running punishing lines and often needing multiple opposition tacklers to bring them down.

With Watford in the ascendancy on the pitch (if not on the scoreboard), a scuffle broke out which resulted in Luke Bees and a Kilburn player taking ten minutes on the naughty step to think about what they had done.

With both sides down to 14, a penalty in the last play was thumped into the corner. McClennon, enjoying an excellent afternoon, benefited from a slick move to score. Menzies conversion drifted just wide, 12-5 half time.

Despite being behind at the break, Watford were far from out and with the set piece being utterly dominant we knew the game was there for the taking.

The second 40 was predominantly one way traffic, Watford in the ascendancy and putting considerable pressure on the Kilburn line. Luke Hammill and Tom Franklin’s work rate reached new levels (if that was possible), the latter scoring Watford’s second after a wonderful piece of skill from Butler. Extras added, scores level.

Watford emptied the bench, Landen and Peck coming on for Portway and McClennon to continue the relentless pressure. It was however our backs replacement Louis Gullin who scored Watford’s third. Some uncharacteristically sloppy handling saw Landen clean up on the floor allowing Matty Rogers to come in and distribute from full back. The ball was worked wide to Gullin who showed exceptional pace and footwork to burn past his opposite number and score next to the posts. Menzies nailed the conversion, 12-19 Watford.

Despite finding themselves in the lead, Watford knew a side like Kilburn would need only the merest sniff of a chance to get back into the game. Nwefo, hungry for work made a break only to be felled by a high tackle. Skipper Menzies opted for the posts, a sweetly struck penalty taking Watford two scores clear.

This roused our hosts, who began to run the ball from deep knowing time was not on their side if they wanted to get anything from the game. Kilburn dragged themselves to within 4 points after an electric break from their winger, and Watford were now looking at the possibility of losing a game they had been dominant in.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the afternoons performance came in this lest five minutes. The men in red, white and blue maintained their compulsive and trusted in the game plan drilled in during the off season by coaches Greg Reeve and Pat Hapeta. Phase after phase built, pressure eventually leading to a Kilburn scrum on their own five metres line. In a fitting end to proceedings, the Watford pack had the final say and absolutely destroyed the home sides set piece. Butler swooped on the loose ball, capping a fine individual performance to ensure Watford took maximum points from a highly entertaining game.