Just a few short weeks after losing a controversial and fiery league game in Central Watford, Pie’s Army took the field with a point to prove and revenge in mind. In fact it was serendipity as the game played out remarkably similarly to that game such a short time ago. Only this time in reverse.

Watford started the game in bellicose fashion with Big Dave Kingsford reminding all of his quality by obliterating the poor fullers tight head who caught the kick off. From the resulting turnover Watford applied concerted pressure for the opening ten or so minutes.

Unfortunately Watford were unable to put points on the board despite being camped in the visitors 22 and a well taken breakaway try put Fullerians into the lead. An extraordinary touchline conversion (into the wind) added the extras but Watford knew they had been the better side.

More Watford possession followed with Giorgio ‘the beast’ Pitsialis making the hard yards and Watford’s support runners ensuring Fullerians couldn’t win turnovers. Considering the visitors came with a very obvious game plan of not over committing to rucks they failed to offer serious resistance around the fringes and thus allowing Watford to regularly cross the gain line.

Unfortunately Watford wasted two well placed lineouts before knocking on close to the try line to stall momentum.

At this point Fullerians found their feet and made good use of their hard running winger to get the ball deep in Watford’s half. Firstly it took a superb cover tackle, on the try line, from full back Franklin to deny the only man on the pitch smaller than him a try in the corner.
Unfortunately they then showed Watford how to finish chances with a second try to extend their lead, 12-0 to the away team, very much against the run of play, just as it had been three weeks ago.

Having thrown away a 12-0 lead at Fullerians Watford knew first hand that such a lead can be flattering. As inspirational skipper Hicks had to retire injured, up stepped Radish Hancock to remind us of our duty to both Pie and the club.

Having kept the ball tight so far Watford showed their all court game with a lovely wrap around play from centre Cox putting scrum half Silver in a half gap, his reverse pass to Winger Kiren Kebaili put the talented youngster through and he beat two men before an illegal no arms tackle (Fullerians fourth of the game after one particularly nasty shoulder charge on Pitsialis) stopped him just short and unfortunately left the Fullers full back out cold stopping the game and a certain Watford try.

Once the player (who is thankfully ok) had recovered enough to leave the field of play Watford resumed with 5 minutes of the first half remaining. A Watford penalty on the fullers ten metre was kicked to the corner and Watford showed the benefits of speed and technique over size with a technically strong rolling maul leaving them just short of the line. Pitsialis made ground once more in a typically rambunctious display before Chris ‘Leesy Vardy’ Routley showed his Martin side by scoring from one yard after letting the rest of the team march it up the field. His fourth try in last four games.

That signalled half time and Watford knew without doubt it would be our day.

We had them beat up front and knew we’d win if we could stop the supply line to their winger.

Shortly into the second half Fullers lost the referee before then losing their left winger to the bin for an ugly attempted kick on Silver. With the numerical advantage Watford rumbled up the field with rolling mauls, pick and goes and some hard lines from the tough three quarters of Wilson, Cox and Bearne.

Knowing the game was slipping away from them the visitors launched a desperate pass wide which bounced allowing the recently introduced Diston to fly hack on and score with his first touch.
12-10 and momentum very much with Watford.

Fullers back up to 15 and Watford camped in their 22 the game entered a period of brutal intensity that would have graced a game much higher up the Rugby pyramid. Radish looked every inch the future Watford captain he is in tandem with his back row partners Pitsialis and Giddings to continually press and it took some brilliant Fullerians defence on their own line to prevent Watford gaining the lead.

The Fullers six was treading a fine line with the referee having questioned a few decisions and been guilty of infringing himself. A. Routley was then denied what looked a good try as the referee felt it had been held up. Shortly after this the six duly obliged Watford by starting a fight with Paul Wilson after C. Routley had been pinged for a high tackle.
This resulted in both the 6 and Paul having a 10 minute breather but more importantly the petulance reversed the original call and gave A. Routley a simple penalty in front of the posts to put Watford 13-12 up.

With both teams short a man, Fullers looked to use the extra space by aiming a series of cross field kicks at Diston. Fortunately after a good amount of forceback in training Watford were equal to this aerial bombardment and happy to keep possession.

When C. Routley gave away a penalty for hands in the ruck Fullers were able to put their first points since the opening 20 minutes on the board and regain the lead with less than 10 minutes to go. 15-13.

Watford didn’t look shaken. To a man Watford looked fresh, fired up and completely in control.

For possibly the first time all season the penalty count was in our favour and Watford knew that the points would come. And they duly did.
Stand in skipper Radish spurned a penalty shot and opted for the corner with yet another rolling maul leading to Giddings spinning off and crashing over for what would prove to be the match winning score. 18-15, 4 minutes to go.

Fullers had one last shot, a penalty in front of the posts. Instead of tying the game for extra time and perhaps knowing that Watford would relish that Fullers launched a big kick for touch and 5 metre lineout. Leaping like the Salmon himself, Jeff Hicks, Giddings spoiled the ball forcing fullers to crash it up rather than form a maul and with that Watford held firm. Another cross field kick went over before A. Routley launched a huge clearance kick to put the ball in the fullers half. As fullers ran it back a wayward pass to their diminutive winger (who’d really had an afternoon to forget) drifted into touch and put Watford on a collision course with Weston and a second cup final for the club.

MOTM: Tom Gordon; three months into his playing career the young man got by far the better of his opposite man and stopped everything in his wide channel.

WOTW: Paul Wilson; must love a ten minute break because he seems to invite yellow cards.