Sat 14 Jan 2017
High Wycombe started 2017 hoping a new year would bring about a change in fortunes. Although a trip to Wallingford who had won their last six games wasn’t going to be easy, in contrast Wycombe had only won one of their last six.
The game started in heavy rain and from the kick off the Wallingford backs made good ground deep into the Wycombe half where Wycombe were penalised, fortunately the kick was missed. This seemed to wake Wycombe up and a great break from centre Greg Butters took him close to the try line where he offloaded the ball in the tackle to number eight Eddie Roche who scored under the post, Cam Baker kicked the conversion 0-7. A few minutes later Wallingford gave away a penalty which Cam kicked 0-10. Not long after, the game was stopped due to an injury to one of the Wallingford players and after a 20 minute delay the decision was made to move the game to another pitch although the only pitches available were a lot smaller in size. Once the game restarted Wycombe continued to dominate the possession with some strong carries from the forwards and were awarded two penalties, Cam easily kicked both from the half way line due to the size of the pitch 0-18. Then another injury to a Wallingford player stopped the game again for a further 15 minutes which resulted in a second change of pitch. With ten minutes, still to half time Wycombe started the brighter following the enforced break and after some strong carries from the forwards the ball was spun out to full back James Lambert who scored in the corner 0-21, and it stayed that way until half time.
Wallingford obviously had a strong team talk as they came out firing with their forwards carrying the ball hard and scored not long after the break to make the score 7-21. Wycombe struggled to keep hold off the ball and could not put any phases together, and Wallingford scored another two quick tries to make the score 21-21. Wycombe were in danger of throwing away another lead, but straight from the kick off regained the ball and a strong run and offload from prop Henry Wyse sent hooker Anton Silvey over the line 21-26. Not long after a penalty at a ruck enabled Cam to extend the lead by a further three points, 21-29. With Wallingford still looking dangerous Wycombe used their forwards to control the game and in the final minutes Anton Silvey carried the ball into contact and with the help of the rest of the pack forced his way over the line, with Cam kicking the conversion 21-36. A few minutes later two hours twenty minutes after the game had started the game finished with a hard-fought victory for Wycombe.
