Having enjoyed the upper hand over their opponents during the last couple of seasons, Watford were keen to extend their winning record and started strongly earning a penalty within the first couple of minutes. Full back Josh Wilkinson stepped up, currently enjoying a rich vein of form off the tee. Off the ground without a tee not so much, the kicking apparatus having been left in the changing room and Josh’s effort almost taking off a Mill Hill players head.

Watford were not to be denied however, excellent ball retention seeing props Greyling and Bees combine to send the latter over for the opening score. The moment was biter sweet, Bees forced to leave the field with a broken ankle sustained in the grounding of the ball. Tee returned to him, Wilkinson slotted a fine conversion for 0-7.

Credit to Mill Hill, who had improved considerably since the last time Watford played them particularly up front. Having shuffled the pack to accommodate the loss of Bees, the visitors were not as dominant in the tight as they would have expected to be in the first period. Add to this some refereeing decisions which had both sets of supporters scratching their heads, the game settled into a something of a lull.

Watford did manage to inspire in flashes, a storming break from Jon McClennon along with strong carries from Wilkinson and Andy Lee showing great promise. Wilkinson in particular looked dangerous with the ball, always a willing runner. It was from a Wilkinson break that Watford added their second, Silver fielding a high ball and shipping to the galloping full back. Wilkinson was hauled down, Sam Holloway on hand with a surging run of his own to score under the posts. Conversion nailed by Wilkinson, 0-14 for Watford at half time.

Needing two further scores for the valuable bonus, Watford didn’t hang about. Sean Silver scored almost immediately from the kick off with the away fans in the bar, therefore we will have to take his word that it was a length of the field effort. Wilkinson slotted another score, and the visitors were within touching distance of four tries and 5 league points.

The pack gradually exerted their dominance in the tight, the scrum in the ascendancy as Mill Hill tired. Simon Bram in particular thrived from the platform his pack were giving him, controlling the game with aplomb from fly half as he had done the previous week. But for some very debatable refereeing calls, the bonus point would surely have been in the bag sooner. As it was, it took until 20 minutes from time for second row Dave Kingsford to crash over Wilkinson once more ensuring 5 points became 7.

Watford took their foot off the gas slightly, the home side earning themselves a consolation score before Bram finished things off with a try his performance deserved, Wilkinson once more deadly from the deck for a final score of 5-35.

Watford sit second in the table after the first two rounds having taken maximum points from their opening fixtures. This weekend they host high flying Thamesians who occupy top spot, 3 pm kick off.

MotM – Simon Bram. Jedi-like control of the game, used his massive brain to good effect.
WotW – Gary Wilson. Complete lack of control of foot when put to ball, didn’t use his brain to good effect.