Sat 22 Oct 2016
High Wycombe travelled to Gloucestershire hoping to build on their victory last time out against Milton Keynes. Unfortunately, due to unavailability and injury Wycombe had to make twelve changes to the team that took to the field last time out. This was going to make any continuity very difficult, and so it proved with Wycombe making early mistakes and missing some tackles. After 10 minutes a poor pass forced Wycombe to carry the ball over their own dead ball line giving Stow a five-metre scrum. From the scrum Stow moved the ball out to their backs who cut through Wycombe’s defence to score in the corner and with the conversation made, took a 7-0 lead. From the kick-off Stow’s number 8 who was a constant thorn in Wycombe’s side with his bullocking runs broke through several tackles to make 40 metres before eventually being hauled down. From the run Stow kept the ball and managed to score again to make the score 14-0. Wycombe’s cause was not being helped by some missed tackle which was conceding territory to Stow allowing them to camp in the Wycombe’s half and from a penalty for being offside Stow kicked the penalty to take the score out to 17-0.
After 25 minutes Wycombe were given a boost when the Stow scrum half was yellow carded for illegal use of the feet at a ruck and from the penalty Wycombe decided to kick to touch, after several penalties Wycombe found themselves with a lineout five metres from the Stow line and although the forwards couldn’t rumble the ball over the line Matt Wardle dived in at the corner, unfortunately Joe Openshaw couldn’t make the tough conversation 17-5. Again, Wycombe were conceding territory and being forced to defend their own line and from a wayward defensive kick which went straight to the opposition full back who beat a couple of defenders and put the Stow winger in at the corner to make the score 22-5 at half time.
The start of the second half was marred by a serious injury to the Wycombe winger, which forced a long delay and change of pitch. Fortunately, after he had been checked over by the physio’s and paramedic the injury didn’t seem as serious as first feared, but a trip to A&E was still needed, we wish him well.
The change of pitch seemed to work in Wycombe’s favour and from a penalty Lewis Davenport was put away and he scored in the corner 22-10. Wycombe were then reduced to 14 men when prop Leo Sykes was yellow carded by the referee. From a lineout Stow’s pack rumbled a rolling maul 20 metres and then broke away to score under the posts to make the score 29-10. Wycombe continued to battle away and a great run from Jack Taplin took Wycombe deep into Stow’s half and from the resulting ruck Matt Wardle was put away to score in the corner for his second try and Wycombe’s third 29-15. Then a fantastic break from Matt Wardle from deep in his own half and support from Henry Wyse saw Wycombe run the length of the pitch and the kick through from Matt was stopped just short of the line by the Stow defence but Stow were penalised for holding on. Wycombe opted for the scrum and were awarded another penalty, this time Eddie Roche took a quick tap and scored under the posts with the conversation made by Joe Openshaw Wycombe were only 7 points adrift 29-22 and had secured a bonus point for four tries. This is as close as Wycombe got to Stow, after another strong rolling maul Stow’s centre waltzed in untouched under the posts to make the score 36-22. In the final play of the game a missed place Wycombe pass gave Stow backs possession and after a couple of passes they were in again to make the score 41-22.
Overall a well-deserved victory for Stow who dominated the game. Credit must be given to those players who stepped up to the first team this week they never gave up and earned a point for scoring four tries.
Next match is a home game against Thatcham.
