Watford v bishop Stortford

Watford welcomed top of the league stortford to radlett road A game that everyone knew had the
Potential to entertain and it didn't disappoint.

Watford started the brighter of the two teams and attacked from the off with second row Stevens coming close early on but the ref deciding it wasn't grounded but knocked on instead. In the scrums both teams gave as good as they got. sadly young hooker A.routley got injured and had to be replaced meaning the scrums had to go uncontested. That didn't stop Watford who played some good rugby in spells grabbed the first try through scrum half Bennett. Who spotted the gap and used a lovely turn of pace to score under the sticks. Franklin converted it to make it 7-0 to the hosts. Stortford rallied and attacked Watfords line but some superb defending from all meant stortford would continue to be frustrated by the home side. Most notably number 8 and M.O.M Horrocks who hit near every ruck and tackled everything that moved. just before the break It was Horrocks who struck next for Watford after picking up at the back of a ruck and driving over the line Watford went in at half time the deserved leaders 12-0.

Watford started the second half strongly putting some fine plays together along with some hard graft at the breakdown. But Stortford attacked themselves and after some fine hands down the wing they scored in the corner. With 30 minutes left the score is now 12-5 and game on. For the last 30 minutes both teams had chances Watfords best chance coming from both their centres starting with Cox making a great run beating two men in the process. Before popping to Reeve who thought he scored but was just short of the try line. Watford still trying to put the game to bed were hit on the counter Stortfords quick winger closing in on the try line but watfords scrambled defence managed to haul him down just short. Stortford weren't finished their and threw everything at the home side. Watford refused to have their line crossed again and stand in skipper Hancock led from the front and repelled Stortfords latest attempt to score. five more attacks came at watford and five more were foiled by a passionate and strong Watford side. reeve managed to steal the ball at the ruck and clear it out for the home side to claim the win. In a hard fought and brutal game where both sides left everything on the field Watford won 12-5 to go joint top in merit table 4.