It was third time lucky in our attempts to host Bank Lane RFC at the mighty Radlett Road, the previous 2 attempts being called off due to frozen pitches. Fortunately, the weather was very different this time around. Our resident weather man, Mr Bees informing us the night before it would be a 'toasty 10 degrees, no rain. Perfect weather'. We were all surprised to see some punctuation present.

The game kicked off and was attritional from the outset. Big, powerful runners from both sides crashing the ball up and being met with just as much intensity from the opposition. The ref was keen to keep the game flowing and allowed a good competition at the breakdown.

A few big scrums, carries, tackles and turnover later and bank managed to break the deadlock with a well worked backs move from the lineout. Score in the corner, conversion missed. 0-5 to the visitors.

Conversation under the sticks was simple, concise and positive- play down their end. And so we did.

The forwards didn't seem to stop wanting the ball good support play allowed the pretty ones space to run around out wide. Good support from the big fellas lead to a few penalties, which captain Scott happilt kept nudging down the line. A few mauls and big carries further forward, Butler puts in a cheeky chip over the top for speedster Matty to dot down in the corner. Fantastic heads up rugby. Conversion missed, 5-5.

Bank kept up the pressure and some ill-discipline from the lads lead to us being pinned on our own 5 meter line. Rush defence in full force but the home side couldn't keep Bank's big boys from creeping over. Another conversion missed. 5-10.

Watford kept their spirits up and back we went, kicking off interestingly, to say the least. Constant pressure on Banks defence from some gorgeous darts by hooker Jack in the lineout meant we could play ball. Changing it up with carries down the middle, mauls and backs doing, well, backs things, it was seemingly tough to defend. Louis went through a big hole in the defence and piled on the pressure. A driving lineout lead to a breakaway and for once some patience in the red zone with pick and goes. Great D from bank lead to the ball going wide, only to be finished by new WRFC recruit Thomas Mohan burrowing over. Fortunately for everyone involved, he didn't keep f**** rolling this time.
Another missed conversion. 10-10 saw us head into the break.

Early in the second half, someone put in a slightly cheap shot on WRFC old boy, the afformentioned Mr Portway and suddenly 30 lads found their handbags to throw around. Anyway, after a talking to, Bank managed to get their biggest lad and run at our 2 smallest, needless to say they went high on him and then low- as they landed flat on their backs. You guessed it, he missed this one too. 10-15.

It seemed as though WRFC had done very WRFC things and gone to sleep. It wasn't that we were out the game, but we just didn't seem to want to play in their half, instead chose ours with some silly penalties helping them on their way. A miss communication in the D line and a simple bite on a dummy saw Bank's midfield glide through and under the sticks. PLOT TWIST! He got this one. 10-22.

A motivating speech under the sticks from Dunners reminding us to start tickling our tackles ensured the boys were ready for any physical encounter that came their way.

Some more great work from the forwards, kicks to the corner and lineouts saw a tap and go penalty trashed up and the very humble Mr Franklin wrestle over for a try. It didn't take long for Bees to get upset that he still has failed to cross the whitewash this season. Scot found his kicking boots and nudged it through the sticks. 17-22. The come back was on.

The forwards kept scummaging and carrying whilst thee backs kept their opposite numbers guessing with ball in hand. Pressure was mounting and time running out. The back field really came together, and ran some incredibly sexy training ground moves. One in particularly sending early try scorer Matty through a huge hole, stepping the fullback and dotting down for his second of the game. Menzies added the extras in what was a thrilling game for both the Watford Fan and the neutral.

24-22 final score.

Special mention to debutants Oscar and Josh and MOTMs Dicko and TMo. Great shift lads.

Special thanks to Mr Portway for delegating this task.

Franko