Fullerians 26 – 10 Datchworth

Fullerians continued their impressive form on Saturday as they close in on what is now looking an inevitable promotion to London 2. Datchworth, buoyed by their recent bonus point win against Wasps went full of confidence to Watford, though it wasn’t to be.
Fullerians started put a lot of pressure on early doors, leading to two early penalties at the scrum. The second was in range for the Fullerians Fly-Half, who had no problem giving his side an early 3 point lead. Soon after, Fullerians were back in the Datchworth 22, this time putting a cross-field kick in for their Winger. Up against Datch full back Joe Richardson, the Fullerians winger was adjudged to have got to the ball first for the score, a dubious call. Joe Richardson was subsequently sin-binned after venting his fury with the decision. Fullerians moved 11-0 up.

Tom Blackwell then came into the front row after 20 minutes and made an immediate impact, tightening up the visitors’ scrum. Fullerian’s from the back of their scrum, moved the ball into midfield though Datch defended resolutely, led by Billy Gatfield. A Gatfield tackle saw a home player chopped down and it was Datchworth’s Sam McBroom over the ball first to win a penalty for his side, the Fullerian’s player was penalised for holding on and Datchworth Fly-Half Tom Wood converted the penalty, the half time score was 11-3.

Datchworth came out firing in the second half and scored an early try. A break from centre Matt Winters through the centre of the Fullers defence saw him one on one with the full back, he offloaded to captain Wood and he ran in under the posts unopposed, following up with the conversion. Fullerians then came back at Datchworth, though it wasn’t until the 70th minute they finally made a decisive breakthrough. Fullerians put a lot of pressure on both the Datchworth scrum and lineout in their own 5, though Datchworth defended stubbornly. After 10 minutes of solid defence in their five, the Fullerian’s unit of a second row barrelled over. This was followed up with a quick-fire third try after an incisive backs breakaway and Fullerians ran out 26-10 winners, duly deserved.

With no-one playing this weekend, the following see’s Datchworth host UCS, a 2.30pm kick off.