2nd XV v Bedford Modern (away) - 7th September 2011-09-08
Result:Watford Win 7 – 24.
Try Scorers – Mitchell, Curtis, Burgess, Butler Conversions – Rainsford x 2
After a long delay, whilst Bedford tried to find a referee for the game, Watford produced a fairly convincing win built on good defence, forward power and improving back line play.
The first game of the season is always scrappy with mistakes aplenty as new combinations develop familiarity and players try to run off their summer ‘ring rustiness’. The experience a number of player had at the Saracens tournament earlier in the week ensured that as the game started Watford’s pack was very much in the ascendancy and a series of drives – up hill and into the wind – produced the first score of the afternoon for Mitchell who jinked his way in the right hand corner after a good blindside option from Telfor put him into the two yards of space he needed.
Watford were totally dominant upfront with Hayes and Howells turning the ball over at will in the loose, and powerful work from the tight five at ruck and maul time.
The first interchange saw a lot of players swap to the first’s game and several players took the field for the first time since last season. Notably Jack Kalish (the man with a permanent hangover) and Ryan Hayes were big losses at this time. The result was 15 minutes where Bedford were able to come back into the game and indiscipline from Watford allowed several penalties. The equalising score followed soon after.
With five minutes to go Watford remembered how to ruck and several promising attacks down the left, created with superb passes from Burgess and Butler,led to Curtis powering over to restore the lead. With the skipper finding his kicking boots the conversion sailed over and the second interchange saw Watford take the game in hand with two more tries from concerted pressure and phases playing back up the hill. The first was from Burgess, chasing through a lovely weighted kick from Rainsford and the final try was a lovely piece of individual skill from scrum half “Sir, I’m gonna be sick” Butler following up his own grubber kick after the forwards had forced the mistake and turnover at the breakdown. Rainsford added a second conversion to make the score 24 – 7.
As the match drew to a close several players went down with cramp and Dom Toon celebrated the victory by remarking the touchline with the contents of his stomach.An excellent start with notable improvement as the game progresses and players adjusted to the pace of senior rugby.
Honourable mentions must go to Josh Curtis who had an excellent game in the centres, Jake ‘The Jackle’ Howells who produced turnover after turnover and winger Jack Bodel who managed to play 30minutes of rugby without ever getting the chance to touch the ball. Rainsford skipped the side well all afternoon.
Squad – Mitchell,Herbertson, Burgess,Curtis, Bodel, Rainsford,TelforHowells Ashida, Kalish, Bond, Toon, McDonald, Hayes, Butler, Noakes, Barraclough, Daley, Butcher, Smith, Mann, Christoforou, Tunmore