Bridge returned to the field for the second time in four days and at home for the first time since November on a warm sunny day in what is usually a hard-fought close encounter with Watford.

The visitors started in fine fashion getting the nudge on in the scrums and making inroads with their big runners. Bridge’s defence held firm before Watford opened the scoring down the left-hand side.

Bridge returned fire and found themselves camped in the Watford twenty-two and after a series of string scrums and penalties managed to open their account through Elliott Wake.

The Bridge onslaught continued with strong runs from Kyle Buckingham, Simon Olliffe, Ben Owen and Matt Cowper and the pressure eventually told as Bridge scored their second of the afternoon with Isaac Williams crashing over from close range.

The teams then interchanged penalties before coming back out in the second half. It was the visitors who came out stronger seizing on some poor work from Bridge on the restart and eventually working themselves into a good position to score from close range.

Bridge found a second wind and managed to return fire with strong carries across the park, resolute defence, and some superb kicks from Wake to keep the dangerous Watford back three pegged back.

Bridge kept pushing for the next try and despite strong tackles and carries from the Poland brothers, Dean and John could not get across the whitewash but were regularly winning penalties in kicking positions in which Wake dispatched all three to extend Bridge’s lead.

Injuries took their toll across both sides and the game finally ended with Bridge consolidating the third position they already had with one game to go.

Uxbridge have their final game of the regular season next week at home to Old Millhillians (K.O- 3pm). All are welcome down.

The Floodlit Cup Final is scheduled for Tuesday 19 April against Old Priorians at Ealing Trailfinders (K.O- TBC, but likely 19:30).