Watford defeat Uxbridge

Watford travelled down the road to take on Uxbridge for the third time this season to make it a hat trick of victories against them.
A typical Watford start we found ourselves down 5-0 in the opening 10 despite some nice rugby being played. Uxbridge getting field position from a silly penalty and scoring from half a metre out to take the lead (as they did for all their tries, apart from the last one where the 10’s dummy step inside finally worked).

Watford then turned on the style, hitting back with some lovely coast to coast phases before getting into the Uxbridge red zone. Jon McLennon, PJ Harriot and Adam Hancock leading the charge in the forwards with some great carries and Simon Bram getting the ball wide through debutant Matt and Fullback Tom McGee. A strong carry from Jake Langden got Watford close and his offload to the supporting Meredith allowed the number 8 to pounce and get his first try of 2019, much to his delight.

Some intelligent and cohesive play at a lineout forced a penalty from Uxbridge's lineout five metres from the line. Stopped short we ran three phases with accuracy and power before unleashing one of our backs moves allowing Upton to score past a scrambling defence.
Then slick handling from Clancy and good support from McGee and Upton in our own 22 led to a line break for debutant Matt. Hauled down five metres out front rowers PJ Harriott and Adam Hancock had tracked 80m in a show of fantastic work rate with Harriott receiving the offload to run through unopposed.

With the backline functioning better than it has all season, and a pack working themselves around the pitch Watford generated front foot ball time and again. Knock ons near the line cost four tries, but not to be deterred one such break and clinical pressure opened the gap for Bram to fire a long pass off his weak hand to winger Clancy who finished with aplomb. A try reminiscent of Johnny May's slick one on one finish against France this year. Clancy then scored in the corner again, with almost a carbon copy of his first try, showing some lovely feet to dot down.

Debutant Matt scored after a clearance kick was returned by McGee and took into contact, Hancock passed out the back to Matt who stepped a player and went over the line

Watford scored again thanks to a poor clearance kick from the fullback landed straight in the hands of McGee, who gladly powered his way through for a score.

Head coach Sean Silver mused after the game:

'With 5 minutes to go, Watford, short of 7 players sunning themselves in Las Vegas, were up by 17 and cruising. Unfortunately fatigue crept in, due to the lack of subs and Uxbridge made the game closer.

Final Score Uxbridge 31 Watford 36