Sat 5 Nov 2016
On a cold afternoon with a biting wind it was Wycombe who struck first with a penalty from Cam Baker after Aylesbury were penalised at the ruck, 3-0. Unfortunately, from the kick off Wycombe could not secure the ball and Aylesbury made ground deep into the Wycombe half with some strong running from their backs. From an ensuing ruck Wycombe are penalised right in front of their posts, which allowed the Aylesbury winger to kick the three points, 3-3. From a high restart Wycombe managed to gain possession of the ball and spun the ball down the back line, the Aylesbury defence held firm but were at the wrong end of the referee’s whistle for not releasing in the tackle and this gave Cam Baker another chance 30 metres out to restore Wycombe’s lead which he duly took, 6-3. Both teams were struggling to stay on the right side of the referee’s whistle and Wycombe were once again penalised at the ruck right in front of their post and this allowed Aylesbury to level the scores 6-6.
Wycombe were struggling to make an impact on the Aylesbury defence and were forced to kick from inside their own half. From a clearing kick the Aylesbury full back gained possession and pinned Wycombe back deep in their own half with a clever kick of his own. The pressure was on the Wycombe lineout to secure the ball but Aylesbury were able to spoil and the ball came back to the Aylesbury number nine who fed the back line, some strong running from the centres and a missed tackle allowed the Aylesbury winger in at the corner, 6-11. Although Aylesbury were on top Wycombe were being given opportunities to create some opportunities of their own and from another penalty Wycombe kicked to touch eight metres from the line. From the attacking lineout Wycombe’s rolling maul was pushed into touch and Aylesbury cleared their lines. Aylesbury continued to dominate and from a penalty for a high tackle kicked to touch seven metres from the Wycombe line and from the resulting lineout rumbled the ball over the line with an impressive rolling maul, 6-16.
The score remained 6-16 until half time, where Wycombe were dealt a double blow already missing several first-choice players through injuries particularly in the backs they lost key forwards Pete Partis (ankle) and Ben Mitchell (head) for the rest of the game. Whatever was said at half time seemed to work as the Wycombe pack came out firing, upped the intensity and were awarded a penalty. From the penalty Wycombe were able to build some phases close to the Aylesbury line and after a number of pick and drives prop Aryton Hooker bulldozed over in the corner, 11-16. Wycombe were not able to build on the good start and from a lineout near the halfway line the Aylesbury scrum half made a great break and was just hauled into touch metres from the line. Although Wycombe cleared their lines the kick didn’t make touch and the ball was quickly moved into midfield and into the hands of the Aylesbury number thirteen who cut back inside and burst through tackles to score, the conversation was made, 23-11. Like the first half Wycombe were being given opportunities to score and from an attacking lineout metres from the line, Wycombe threw everything they had at the Aylesbury defence picking and driving seven or eight times, eventually the ball was moved out to the backs but a knock on thwarted the attack. Credit must go to the Aylesbury forwards who held firm on their own try line.
Wycombe didn’t give up and from a lineout the forwards set up a rolling maul and marched the Aylesbury forwards back 25 metres, with the maul still moving forward the ball was moved out to the backs, but a wayward pass allowed an Aylesbury player to fly kick the ball back deep into the Wycombe half and secure the ball but was bundled into touch. From the lineout Wycombe again used their forwards to good effect with another rolling maul moving the ball up to the 22-metre line but whilst trying to clear the ball Wycombe knocked the ball on and presented Aylesbury with a scrum seven metres out. From the scrum Wycombe struggled and were marched back over their own line allowing Aylesbury number eight to touch down, 11-28.
With only five minutes to go it looked very unlikely that Wycombe would get anything out of the game but Wycombe regained the ball and put some phases together, the ball was passed out to Matt Wardle who side stepped he way past several defenders to score a fantastic individual try under the post, Cam Baker dropped kicked the extra points, 18-28. With only minutes, remaining Wycombe were in touching distance of a losing bonus point, and this was helped when Aylesbury kicked directly into touch from the kick off giving Wycombe a scrum on half way. From the scrum number eight Eddie Roach picked up and made a fantastic break bursting through tackles and showing great pace he was hauled down inches from the line by a high tackle and the referee awarded Wycombe a penalty try. With only seconds left Captain Ian Burnham converted the two points with a drop kick allowing enough time for the restart 25-28. Aylesbury didn’t make the same mistake again and kicked the ball down the middle of the pitch and although Wycombe tried to keep the ball alive couldn’t get in striking distance and the game finished 25-28.
Another frustrating game, on the one hand Wycombe did well to rescue a point but were left thinking what could have been. Let’s hope the week off allows some of the injured players to be available for Wycombe’s next match which is a home game against local rivals Beaconsfield.
