Over the (Mill) Hill & Far Away

With Mill Hill having won promotion from HM2 the previous season, Watford knew what to expect and the visitors didn’t disappoint. Mill ran riot in the opening 20 mins, the number of Watford touches ball in hand in the low single figures. Credit to the away sides fly half who pulled the strings superbly, frequently putting his powerful runners into space. Despite a much improved Watford scrum from previous games, Mill Hill were proving more than troublesome in the lineout with their man of the match frequently spoiling the Watford throw.

Having weathered the storm (shipped a few tries and woken up), Watford gradually began to gain a much needed foothold in the game and even won a scrum penalty against MH at one point. Richard Yates was denied by a fine cover tackle in the corner before Watford’s improvement was finally rewarded, Pitsialis sending co-captain Tom Gordon through a gap to score in the corner. Menzies added a tricky conversion, Watford finally on the board.

The home side maintained their improved level for the second half, however the damage had been done in the opening salvos and we never really looked like getting ourselves back into it. That said, the scrum continued to hold its own and we enjoyed far greater territory and possession than we had in the first 40. Kingsley Nwefo looked his dangerous self when introduced with Will Murray and Martin Cunningham also increasing Watford’s carrying options. Mill Hill were able to add a further try to their tally, however the final 15 minutes were all Watford. Mill Hill lost a man to the bin for a bit of afters, soon followed by a second for questioning the referees decision making one too many times. The home side gamely ran a penalty during the last platy of the game, however Jack Upton sabotaged our brave act of defiance when he clashed heads with a MH player resulting in open wounds for both men. Classic Jack.

All in all, not a terrible performance given the pedigree of our opposition and the fact that they will by plying their trade in HM1 this year. That said, we have to be switched on for the full 80 minutes to maintain our aspirations of challenging for promotion at the business end of the season.

MOTM – Tom Gordon. Stepped into a leadership role and led from the front. Carried and tackled all day.

WOTW – Josh Wilkinson. You had to be there to appreciate the truly horrendous trousers he somehow squeezed himself into. We can only hope he continues to wear them for the whole season.