Watford Edge Uxbridge in 1 Point Thriller

Words from Liam Meredith

The game started in an unusual fashion, Captain Simon Bram put up a perfect high kick off which was chased and pressured brilliantly by winger Jack Upton, the pressure from Upton saw the Uxbridge player knock the ball straight into the hands of Watford Number 8 Liam Meredith, who proceeded to run straight through to score the game’s first try inside the opening 20 seconds! The conversion was put wide by Josh Wilkinson.

Watford 5 Uxbridge 0

Not long after this Watford were in again! Some nice work from the forwards gave scrumhalf Ben Wilson good ball to give Bram the platform to put up another pearler of a kick, pressured by Stu Hall and gathered superbly by fullback Keelan Tullett. After some neat interplay on the far side, Josh Wilkinson showed some serious toe to score the first of his two tries. Alas, he couldn’t channel his namesake and convert his own effort but things were looking bright for Watford.

Watford 10 Uxbridge 0

However, Uxbridge had not come up the M25 to be steamrolled again! After some dogged play and some scrappy rugby from Watford inside our own half, Uxbridge got a scrum not far from the Watford line. Setting the tone for their game with their attacking scrum and powerful number 8 they were over for their first try of the game which their scrumhalf duly converted.

Watford 10 Uxbridge 7

A wake up call for Watford after what was a great start to the game was needed and was duly provided. More good work from the forwards with big carries from the likes of Hammill, Hancock and Paul Wilson allowed Watford to once again release their back line. A perfectly executed move saw a nice dummy line from Paul Dunlop allowed Wilkinson slice through the would be Uxbridge defence for his second try of the day. This time he was able to convert his own effort.

Watford 17 Uxbridge 7

With just one more try needed for the bonus point Watford were feeling confident when a penalty for Uxbridge ill-discipline was awarded and Bram put a kick down 10 metres from the Uxbridge line. However the Uxbridge pack used their knowledge of the laws to collapse the ensuing maul and get turnover ball. A half break from their fly-half saw him offload to their flanker who put on the afterburners to get Uxbridge their second score of the game. Once again the clinical Uxbridge goal kicker obliged with the conversion to put them back within 3 points.

Watford 17 Uxbridge 14

Some great scramble defence on the line from Jonny Tidmarsh, who played brilliantly earning some key turnovers, and the Watford Pack stopped the Uxbridge big men from powering over just before the half and Watford kept the slim lead going into the break.

HALF TIME Watford 17 Uxbridge 14

After a pep talk from stand in Coach Andy Lee, Watford knew that the next score in the game would be huge for the rest of the game. Unfortunately Uxbridge had the same idea, and after some confusion in the defensive line, their flanker was in again within the first 5 minutes of the second half. The scrum half didn’t look phased slotting the conversion again straight through the middle.

Watford 17 Uxbridge 21

This gave Watford the rocket they needed, having led for most of the game and dominated in patches they now found themselves behind. However this season has seen the club change massively and the mentality to keep going and get the job done was there. The pack started clicking together nicely, and the Watford line out was working well as it did all game thanks to some accurate darts from Hancock and the pod work of McLennon, Landen, Tidmarsh, Hamill and Routley. Paul Dunlop, now at hooker due to an injury to Paul Wilson, used his footwork to create his own space and go over for Watford’s bonus point try. 17 year old debutant Joe Clancy, on for the injured Wilkinson, couldn’t quite add the extras but Watford retook the lead none the less.

Watford 22 Uxbridge 21

Uxbridge weren’t done yet though… Watford got some good field position after some strong carries from Meredith and substitute centre Karl Neal-Shutte but couldn’t quite get the extra scores they wanted. The score nearly came from Clancy after some nice play from Upton and Tullett but a foot in touch cost him his debut meat pie! Uxbridge had a spell down in the Watford 22 and after some untidy ball, their number 8 bullocked his way to the line and another conversion from the Uxbridge 9 to set up a grandstand finish.

Watford 22 Uxbridge 28

Uxbridge had the smell of victory in their nostrils, but unfortunately for them the smell would waft Watford’s way in the end. A turnover in the lineout allowed Meredith to make a break and win a penalty for a high tackle. The ball was once again pumped into the corner by Bram, who had certainly brought his kicking boots with him this week. The ball was retained and it was only the sticky fingers of Meredith that didn’t see Hancock score in the corner. This proved to be a pivotal moment however as after some hard phases, the forwards were cured of their white line fever and Bram stepped through to score to the left of the posts. Up stepped Clancy who, with confidence and poise beyond his years, slotted the winning conversion to give Watford the 5 points.

A tough win for Watford in the end but what a game it was!

Big thanks to Mark Hill for running the water on, and congratulations to WRFC's latest married couple, Mr & Mrs Beynon who gave cause for a double celebration by tying the knot just as Josh scored his second try!

MOTM: Adam Hancock
WOTW: Keelan Tullett