Sat 25 Mar 2017
After a week’s break, High Wycombe entertained second place Bicester with both teams having to make changes to their regular starting line-ups, Wycombe had a very youthful look to their team.
On a bright but breezy afternoon, it was the home team who were playing with the wind in the first half. Wycombe started brightly and a measured kick from Cam Baker pinned Bicester back inside their twenty-two and whilst trying to clear the ball knocked on giving Wycombe an attacking scrum. A strong scrum (a strength of Wycombe’s all afternoon) forced Bicester into conceding a penalty and Cam Baker duly took the three points on offer 3-0. Wycombe continued to enjoy good possession and territory and this was being helped by Bicester’s ill-discipline and after a couple of penalties Wycombe had a lineout eight metres from the Bicester line. Wycombe secured possession from the lineout and Aryton Hooker peeled off the maul and over the line but unfortunately as he was about to score the ball was ripped from his grasp, the referee gave a knock on and the scrum was awarded to Bicester. At the scrum, Wycombe applied huge pressure forcing the Bicester number eight to pick up from the base, in trying to offload, the ball went forward and Wycombe were awarded the scrum. From the scrum a wayward pass sent Wycombe scurrying backwards but then Bicester were penalised for not letting the man to his feet and again Cam Baker slotted the penalty, 6-0. Eventually Bicester enjoyed some possession and from a line-out kept the ball well and their lively winger scored with the conversion made, Bicester took the lead 6-7. From the kick-off, Bicester secured the ball but after a knock on were penalised for being offside and another excellent kick from Cam Baker took Wycombe back into the lead 9-7. After a series of penalties against both teams Wycombe managed to spoil a Bicester lineout and kicked the ball into opposition territory, whilst running the ball back Bicester were then penalised for crossing and Wycombe were given a penalty just inside their own half and with the wind behind them decided to kick for goal. For once Cam did not connect properly with the ball and scuffed it, but fortunately for Wycombe whilst trying to stop the ball one of the Bicester players kneed it over the dead ball line and the home team were awarded an attacking scrum on the Bicester five metre line. Wycombe got a good nudge on at the scrum and number eight Zach Gregory picked up from the base and dived over the line to score, Cam made the kick from the touch line 16-7. Just before half time another infringement from Bicester gave Cam another opportunity at three point which he slotted to take the score to 19-7 at half time, an excellent half of rugby from Wycombe.
With the wind behind them and a severe talking to from their coach, Wycombe knew that Bicester would come out fired up. As the second half started it was Wycombe’s turn to be on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle and after a several penalties Bicester had a lineout eight metres from the Wycombe line and after a catch and drive scored, with the kick good 19-14. Wycombe were now struggling to gain any territory or possession and Bicester were using the strong wind well, and after some carries the Bicester winger again went over, with the kick missed 19-19. Unfortunately, the kick off went straight into touch and from the scrum some strong carries took Bicester into the twenty-two where Wycombe were penalised for a high tackle and Bicester kicked for touch. Wycombe’s initial defence was good and managed to hold the ball up over the line. At the scrum, Wycombe once again exerted pressure but Bicester secured the ball and after several phases scored, 19-26. Immediately from the kick off Wycombe were penalised and were once again pinned back in their own half and after conceding another penalty found themselves defending a lineout five metres from their line. Wycombe initially defended well but eventually the pressure told and the Bicester winger went over for his third try, 19-33. Wycombe then enjoyed some possession and a good break from Joff Forber took play into the opposition twenty-two, Bicester were penalised and Wycombe opted for the lineout. At the line-out Wycombe were on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle, marched back ten metres and Joff was yellow carded for something he said to the referee. Wycombe now found themselves defending a lineout in their own twenty-two and Bicester secured possession and scored 19-40. With twenty seconds to go Bicester secured the re-start and kicked the ball straight out, the referee deemed that there was time to take the lineout. Wycombe secured the ball and the referee penalised Bicester, with time up Wycombe opted for the scrum seven metres out. Bicester were then penalised at the scrum and this time Joe Openshaw took a quick tap and passed to Zach Gregory who went over in the corner for his second try, Cam made the kick and the game finished 26-40.
Overall a very encouraging performance from a young Wycombe side particularly in the first half. Next week a home game against bottom of the table Bletchley.
