Uxbridge bow out of cup at hands of Watford.

On a warm afternoon, Uxbridge left to rue missed opportunities in 27-12 loss to Watford.

With two friendlies under their belts, Uxbridge returned to competitive action in the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Cup hosting Watford at home on a warm afternoon. Not only was this a knockout cup game, but with Watford in the same league as ‘Bridge, also a good bellwether for the league campaign ahead.

The game started in earnest and the opening stages were frantic with both sides guilty of squandering good opportunities with poor handling or soft penalties conceded. Watford raced into a well-taken two try lead through a mix of moving the ball and hard running.

Not to be upstaged, Uxbridge returned fire and found themselves camped in the Watford 22 for a good ten minutes and with some good kicking from Ieuan Jones and lineout work from Sam Cater and Kyle Buckingham, the home side took the game to Watford.

Persistence eventually paid off and with Ollie Seward conducting the attack and Sam Dillamore, Jake Lamport and Mark Coles probing the line, a spilt Watford ball was gleefully scoped up by Jones to open the scoring. Score 10-5.

The first half yielded little more of note, so second half saw the introduction of Michael Bijowski and injury legend Adam Jenkins. Both made their own marks on the game, Bijowki with some solid carries, Jenkins with his big gob and robust scrummaging.

Watford were first to reply with a break away try of their own to add to their lead, before scoring again from close range following a scrum penalty.

Uxbridge saw much of the ball in the Watford half and despite playing some good rugby, too many times found the last pass wanting or were unable to be clinical in the final 10m of the pitch and dot down.

Sam Dillamore produced one of his excellent trademark bullocking runs through a dog leg in the Watford defence to close the deficit, but as Bridge began to chase the game, errors crept in and Watford capitalised with another try to take the final score to 27-12.

Uxbridge return to league action this week with the First XV away to London French and the Second XV are at home to Grasshoppers Second XV. Both are 15:00 kick-offs and all players are needed to make both games go ahead.