First XV endure heartbreak in cup final loss to Watford
Verulamians 18 vs 22 Watford
Vees travelled to Harpenden RFC on Saturday to try and take some silverware from a season that had promised much, but proved tougher post Xmas.
Watford were the opposition and arrived on the back of a victory the previous week at Chess Valley.
The season’s previous meeting had been a close, tense affair with Vees coming out on top, but it was always likely to be a close battle and so it proved.
Vees fielded a strong and youthful side, led by Joe Breeze in the absence of skipper and talisman Callum Porter. They had trained hard in the mud at Cotlandswick on Thursday and were met with the 4G pitch at Rebourn Lane with a strong wind blowing down the pitch towards the packed stand.
Vees started with the wind at their backs and knew they needed to start quickly but it was Watford who began with more purpose, carrying the game to Vees and showing a willingness to use width to stretch our defence. An early Josh Lawrence yellow card gave Watford extra impetus and after a speculative kick one of their props managed to capture the ball and dive over for an early converted score for a 7-0 lead.
Vees started to get back into the game with the scrum applying pressure and clean lineout ball allowing probes into the Watford midfield.
Putting the Watford line under pressure, Vees forced a penalty and, with every point vital, Jake Lawrence stepped up and slotted the 3 points.
Vees reset, raised their game and from a line out win on half way, Josh Lawrence burst through the Watford defence and offloaded to his former centre colleague Andre Fourie, starting the game at open side. Fourie has always relished the physical aspects of the game and his recent move from centre to back row has allowed him to stamp his physical presence on matches and inspire his teammates through actions alone. Taking the ball on the 10 yard line he had so much to do but his pace, persistence, physicality and handoff took him clear and despite a last ditch cover tackle, he scored a memorable try in the corner.
The try took Vees into an 8-7 lead but in quick succession Vees lost back rows Owen Cranny and Fourie to a head knock and knee injury respectively, with neither deemed fit enough to return.
Watford remained composed and troubled Vees by mixing their attack lines and with their 7 causing real problems for Vees at the breakdown, resulting in a number of holding penalties. At times the game became fractious and the referee had to speak to both captains to stop tempers boiling over.
Vees returned to a composed state for long enough to force another penalty which Jake Lawrence slotted for an 11-7 half time lead.
With the wind in the 2nd half, Watford fancied their chances. An early 3 points from their fly half and a second yellow card for Vees, again for a dangerous tackle, this time by abrasive new recruit Connor Nash, gave momentum to the opposition.
At 11-10 Vees conceded two quick scores, one from a strong break from a scrum, the second from disappointing Vees tackling which allowed their scrum half to evade a number of defenders to score in the corner. The first was converted, leaving Vees with an 11-22 deficit.
Breeze needed to keep his side calm and motivated. Coach Monners rotated his bench to keep players as fresh as possible and it was pleasing to see Vees bench consisting of the past, the present and the future, all getting game time.
With 15 mins to go Vees were exerting all the pressure and Jugganaut Josh Lawrence barged his way over to give Vees hope, especially with brother Jake impressively slotting the wind affected conversion.
At 18-22, Vees had their tails up and abrasive defence caused Watford’s possession to dry up and limit their ability to use the wind to clear their lines.
The remainder of the game was played in the opposition’s half but Vees couldn’t breach an outstanding Watford defence. Many games this season have been won by forwards’ pick and drives, and the whole pack hammered away at the defensive wall, but the gaps didn’t appear and there were a number of occasions where Vees had sucked in the defence, only to be too slow in identifying that width would get them over the line.
With one of the last plays of the game, a backs move put Jake Lawrence into space and having beat one defender, he managed to offload out of the next tackle to wing Dan Williams. Dan pinned his ears back and sprinted to the corner for what looked to all supporters likely to be a winning score, but a heroic last ditch Watford tackle stopped him inches short and knocked into touch.
The final minutes seemed to last a lifetime as Vees threw everything at the opposition but it was not to be, as a final crucial turnover gave Watford the ball and they kicked the ball off for victory.
Defeat in a final is never easy to take. Vees have turned such a massive corner this season through the innovative coaching of ‘old boy’ Chris Monaghan, an early season winning streak which had not been bettered in years, the increase in numbers in a youthful and talented squad and the re-emergence of the vitally important learning ground of 2nd team rugby. The whole squad had desperately hoped for a win to reward all the blood, sweat and tears through the season but it was not to be.
Sport can be cruel and Vees will know that this was a game that was within their grasp. Watford showed creativity in attack, resilience in defence and a never say die attitude and these attributes gave them an hard-earned victory. To a player, the Vees squad were incredibly frustrated and determined to ensure once the season concludes, all thoughts will be to bettering the achievements of this season and building on the solid foundations they have laid.
Player of the match was given to Jake Lawrence.
#UptheVees
Written by Simon French