Up and Running!

With a number of players returning from injury and unavailability, for the first time this season both Watford senior teams were able to field full squads. Berkhamsted had enjoyed a very promising start to their season, drawing 24 points apiece last week against a Tabard side who had put us to the sword in our previous game. Based on the formbook, this could be a long and difficult afternoon.

Thankfully, Watford don’t pay much heed to form books.

Having claimed the kick off we immediately took the game to our visitors with a series of hard, direct carries. Captain George Hicks led from the front, constantly looking for work and exhorting his troops to continue their onslaught. Watford dominated territory and possession in the opening 15 minutes, Berkhamsted appearing slightly shell shocked at the ferocity we displayed in the opening exchanges. When Berkhamsted were able to regain possession, they were met by an unyielding wall of red, white and blue and struggled to gain any meaningful territory. Kudos to centre Stu Hall and flankers Jake Langden and Jonny Tidmarsh who all put in numerous hits, hooker Paul Wilson a constant menace at the breakdown.

Whilst our play in the loose was exceptional, the same unfortunately couldn’t be said of our set piece with Berko utilising their size advantage to constantly disrupt Watford ball at scrum time. Likewise, in blustery conditions a number of our lineouts weren’t quite on the money and for all our dominance we were yet to trouble the score sheet. Thankfully, this was soon to be rectified. After strong carries from Chad and Coxy, scrum half Mark Hill found Martin Lee running a tight angle just outside the 22, the no 8 crashing through the fringe defence before exhibiting a grotesque lack of pace to drag himself over the line. Extras missed, 5-0 Watford.

We were back on the attack immediately from the re-start, Steve James showing his usual silky footwork to constantly trouble the opposition defence. With the wind picking up and our set piece far from assured, Watford were choosing to run any penalties earned. It was from such a moment we added our second, Man of the Match Paul Wilson dotting down after some strong carrying from the pack.

With 10 minutes on the clock until half time, Berkhamsted began to get a foothold in the game. Watford continued to defend stoutly, Ben Wilson once again proving the bigger they are, the harder they fall with some crunching hits alongside fellow diminutive back 3 member James Fisher who channelled his inner Lewis Moody by throwing himself face-first at any opposition player who ventured down his wing. Despite these heroics, the visitors were inching inexorably closer to the home sides line. Our discipline began to waver, Berko scoring from quickly taken tap penalty while the majority of players from both sides were engaged in a full on Royal Rumble. Despite some ugly scenes, credit to both sides and their respective captains for (eventually) calming the situation. Half time, 10-5 to Watford after an enthralling first half.

Berkhamsted were a renewed team after the break, and came firing out of the blocks in the second half to soon draw themselves level after some uncharacteristic slack Watford defending. Berko continued to apply pressure, Watford quite literally throwing their bodies in the way in defence of their line – one hit from Tidmarsh in particular saving what seemed a certain try. With the Watford defence strained almost to breaking point, Paul Wilson won an absolutely crucial turnover on our own line allowing fly half Keelan Tullett to clear to our 22. What followed was arguably the turning point of the match, the visitors over throw being claimed by Coxy who made a storming break up to the half way line. The next phase would surely have raised a smile on head coach Sean Silver’s face somewhere in darkest West London (two passes!), with quick ball being worked to the wing to debutant Joe Clancy. Clancy still seemingly had it all to do, however anyone who has watched him playing junior rugby won’t have been surprised by what happened next. Joe turned on the after burners, beating his man on the outside before streaking away to score and give Watford to lead at 15-10.

The game reached new levels of ferocity, Hicks, Hall and Bekker all forced to leave the field due to injury as well as similar numbers of Berko players. Despite the handbags earlier in the match and in increase in physicality, the game was played in a tough but fair spirit. As is to be expected from a quality team like Berkhamsted, they continued to storm the Watford line and eventually crossed, nailing the conversion to give themselves the lead for the first and only time in the match.

In a further boy blow for Berko, having lost both our props to injury scrums were forced to go uncontested. From a traditional Watford exit set, we once more ground the hard yards up the field. The ball eventually found its way to Tidmarsh, the flanker showing his pace to once more put Watford ahead. With time running out, the visitors knew they had to roll the dice however the final say was to be a Watford one. Having gathered the re-start, the ball once more found its way to Clancy on the wing. With space in front of him, and cover nowhere to be seen, there was only ever going to be one result with the debutant adding his second after another fine long-range break.

With a minute and a half left on the clock, a fine game was bought to a sadly premature end when Robert Upton went down with a dislocated shoulder. Our thanks to Berko and the referee for displaying fine sportsmanship and agreeing to call the contest slightly early, Watford gaining their first league victory of the season.

A game of two halves really, Watford the stronger side in the first half with Berko claiming the second period with regards to possession and territory despite being outscored three tries to two.

All in all, an excellent performance from Watford, who showed immense heart and desire after a difficult few weeks to grind out a win against quality opposition. The great thing is, despite a solid performance the side still has a great deal of room for improvement. Given that we still had a number of players unavailable (despite fielding two full strength squads), competition for spots in both sides during the coming weeks is sure to be fierce.

MOTM – Paul Wilson. Carried, tackled, won turnovers – consummate performance in difficult conditions.

WOTW – Martin Lee. Unwell before the match / laughed when skipper got ball caught in back fat as he attempted a round the world hail Mary pass