A FRIENDLY in the loosest sense of the word, Watford Rugby Club and Datchworth served up an entertaining 80 minutes of rugby on Saturday with a 10-10 draw just about the right result.

Both sides started strongly, and the Watford forwards took the heavier Datchworth pack on up-front. Watford’s superior scrummaging again came to the fore throughout the game and allowed Traxon to spread the ball wide to the backs. Hooker Hicks also won a number of strikes against the head to really put pressure on Datchworth.

The pressure told halfway through the first period when the ball came out to Jenkins at out-half. He tore through the Datchworth defence to touch down and put the first points on the board although Traxon could not add the tough conversion.

As has often been the case with Watford this season, they then let their guard down to allow Datchworth over the line twice.

Watford then lost their captain, Jenkins, early on in the second half due to injury and inside centre, Agadoo Allan, moved to outhalf with winger Portway moving to outside centre. Andy Fletcher came on to take Portway’s place on the wing.

With no real kicking option in the backs, Watford had to start running the ball. The change of tactics worked well and the second try came from a move that started just outside their own 22. Some slick passing saw the ball moved out wide for Ross on the wing to make a terrific run. He broke through a number of tackles and timed his pass perfectly to full-back Thompson who scored to the right of the posts.