Watford 2nd's Win at Woking 2nd's

Saturday didn’t get off to an ideal start. Despite nearly 60 people having trained at some point over the summer, we only travelled with a squad of 23 (8 second team players) due to a huge number of injuries / unavailability’s. Woking had planned for two games so kindly lent us players to make it a bit fairer, leading to 13 (Watford) against 15 (Woking).

It went from bad to worse for the away side, as centre and debutant mark smith had to come off with a torn hamstring after just 5 minutes. However, Watford didn't let that bother them and started the livelier of the two sides. For the first 20 minutes the visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and territory, but were unable to convert pressure into points. Woking were the first to get on the scoreboard after 25 minutes when their winger intercepted in his own half, showing a great turn of pace to score under the posts, extras added to make it 7-0 . Just before the break Woking scored a second well worked but unconverted try to make it 12-0 .

Watford came out after half time revitalised, and immediately went on the attack. A sniping break by scrum half Mark Hill found Belarusian second row Leonid Zelenkevich in support. Zelenkevich showed great strength to power through would be tacklers and score his first of the season. Belying their inferior numbers, Watford were soon on the attack again. Prop Gary Wilson, strong in both the tight and loose, fed Hill for the visitors second try of the afternoon. The try scorer picked himself up to score the sweetest of drop goals, equalling the scores at 12 all. Watford were in the ascendancy, and took the lead with 20 minutes to go. Scrummaging with only 6 men, the visitors pack secured turnover ball and quickly fed Joel Gilmore on the wing. Gilmore showed excellent pace and strength, before offloading to the supporting blinside / openside / no 8 Mike Jenkins to score an unconverted try. With only minutes left on the clock, Watford’s defences were breached for the first time in the second half. The extras were added to give the home side the lead. With time seeming up, a strong Watford chase from the restart resulted in a knock on from the visitors and a Woking scrum – last play of the game. Front row Routley, Wilson and Hicks performed as they had done all game, and once more disrupted the opposition put in. With the ball spilling out of the scrum, Gilmore seized his chance and galloped towards the line. Despite being hauled down he managed to offload to the tireless Jenkins, who was scragged himself mere inches from the whitewash. The ball was collected by a supporting Woking player, who no doubt made himself the most popular man at his club by scoring with the last play of the game to give Watford the win. Hill added the extras, to secure a great victory.

Watford would like to thank Woking for lending them enough players to ensure that a second team game could go ahead, with special thanks to the Woking player who scored the winner. There is always a beer available for you at Watford!

This Saturday the second team have their final warm up game before the league starts, playing Hackney 3rds at Radlett Road K.O 3pm. All support welcome.
Watford 2nd XV: Routley, Hicks, G. Wilson, Zelenkevich, Jenkins, M. Hill, Gilmore, Smith, 4 Woking Players.

Tries: Zelenkevich, Hill, Jenkins, Woking Hero

Cons: M. Hill x 2

Man of the Match: Leo Zelenkevich. Showed up well in the loose, making some bulldozing carries. Solid in both scrum and lineout, a commanding performance,