Watford first XV hold on to beat Old Isleworthians

Watford produced a disappointing second half but managed to hold on against an OI's side whose strength and determination belied their league position.

With kick off inexplicably delayed by fifteen minutes Watford were left standing in the cold and somehow allowed this to affect their concentration in a slow opening period. With neither team managing to combine possession and territory the first ten minutes must have been tiresome for the few spectators on what was a bitterly cold day in London.

Watford full back Wilkinson tried to spark the game into life with a trade mark counter attack only to land awkwardly after a covering defender took his legs from under him. With Isleworthians desperately retreating and Watford pressing an infringement led to a Watford penalty within the 22 to the left of the sticks. With the reliable Wilkinson forced off the field as a precaution wing Silver took over kicking duties for the second time in three weeks. 3-0 up but not playing with any real fluency Watford introduced young talent Kebaili-Dwyer as Wilkinson's replacement in a move that proved crucial.

Going into the second quarter Watford started to show some attacking intent with Hammill, Reeve, Greyling and others making ground. One half break got Watford into OI's territory and quick hands released Kebaili-Dwyer who bulldozed past two defenders to score a fine try, no doubt the first of many for Watford's first XV.

Watford's pack returned to their usual levels of dominance for what remained of the opening half and some huge pressure forced a very poor clearance kick not five minutes after Watford's opening try. The ball dropped to that man Kebaili-Dwyer again as the youngster showed his Gallic flair to leave for defenders grasping before an extravagant swan dive over the line. Silver knocked over the near touchline conversion to much surprise for a 15-0 lead.

With increased pressure Dunlop went close before Greyling forced a turnover that nearly led to a third try, Silver adjudged to be held up over the line. From the resulting scrum Horrocks touched down only for the referee to decide it was half time and not award the try.

With a three score lead and playing downhill against a team who have supposedly tired in recent matches Watford were targeting the bonus point and perhaps this complacency contributed to their downfall. Whilst skipper Hammill was leading by example and stressing the importance of not conceding the rest of the team were uncharacteristically sloppy.

Lineouts went awry, the scrum backwards and backs knocked on or kicked out on the full. It was in truth a collectively poor second half. Pitsiallis tackled fantastically on his first start, in his preferred blind side shirt, for six years and whilst Watford defended solidly the lack of any possession and constant concession of turnovers was bound to prove costly.

Old Isleworthians were in the ascendency and score two fine tries through their winger before he was forced from the field with a dead leg after a McClennon tackle. Up by 3 point with less than ten left Watford finally lifted from the doldrums with a solid display of game management in the closing stages. Watford controlled territory and kept the ball firmly in the OI's half and could have scored had the referee spotted a clear and dangerous high tackle which quite literally tore the scrum hat from Pitsialis' head within 10m of the line.

With a player down injured the referee stopped the game with Watford in possession and from the resulting scrum Hill booted the ball off and Watford issued a huge sigh of relief.

Take the win, Move on.