Sat 4 Mar 2017
After last week’s agonising defeat to Marlow, Wycombe travelled to Aylesbury hoping for a change of fortune, although changes in both the forwards and backs was always going to make this a difficult game.
Wycombe made an encouraging start on Aylesbury’s new 4G surface and were awarded a couple of penalties in the first five minutes of the match. From an Aylesbury overthrow at the lineout Aryton Hooker gathered the ball and made a strong run deep into the Aylesbury twenty-two and was only stopped five metres short of the try line. After several phases of play Aylesbury were then penalised for coming in at the side and Matt kicked to touch to set up a five-metre lineout. Unfortunately, the lineout was stolen by Aylesbury and they cleared the ball straight to Rob Morgan who collected the ball and ran hard at the defence, he then threw a long pass to Matt Wardle who evaded a couple of tackles to score in the corner, Cam Baker missed the kick 0-5. Wycombe were holding their own against a strong Aylesbury side and after some wayward kicking from both teams a fantastic kick using the strong wind from Cam pinned Aylesbury back in their twenty-two. Aylesbury cleared from the lineout and then turned over Wycombe’s ball, some strong running from both forwards and backs forced Wycombe to retreat, eventually Aylesbury engineered an overlap and their winger was one on one with Cam, he then decided to kick the ball and kicked it dead, a let off for Wycombe. From the drop out Matt kicked deep and although Aylesbury ran the ball back they were penalised at the ruck. Wycombe couldn’t take advantage and missed touch, the Aylesbury winger took the ball back into the Wycombe half and a good tackle enabled Harry Bloodworth to get over the ball, but he was harshly penalised. Aylesbury took a quick penalty and ran the ball and after a several phases their lively winger scored in the corner 5-5. A knock on at a lineout gave Aylesbury a scrum just outside their twenty-two, and a strong drive put them on the front foot and they made hard yards deep into the Wycombe half and eventually the Aylesbury winger went over in the corner 5-10. Aylesbury were now firmly on top and Wycombe nearly conceded again but after some good defence were awarded a penalty and managed to clear. It wasn’t long until Wycombe were on the back foot again and from a strong scrum Aylesbury kept it tight and rumbled over the line, 5-17 and the half time whistle blew.
The second half didn’t start well and from a scrum penalty Aylesbury kicked to touch eight metres from the Wycombe line. After securing the ball at the lineout they used their forwards to make ground close to the Wycombe line and then spun the ball out for their winger to score his third try 5-22. After kicking the ball dead Wycombe had a scrum on the halfway line but were penalised and Aylesbury again kicked for touch. From the lineout Aylesbury used their backs and went over for another try 5-29. Wycombe were now struggling and this wasn’t being help by a number of missed tackles and from another lineout Aylesbury used their backs once again and scored under the posts. 5-34. Wycombe then enjoyed some time and territory in the Aylesbury twenty- two and from a knock on and then a pass which went dead had several five metre scrums. From the first scrum Tom with the help of the pack was held up over the line. From the next scrum, Ian Burnham picked up from the base and the ball was passed out to winger Rob Morgan who went over to score 10- 34. With a few minutes left Aylesbury carried the ball strongly into the Wycombe half and after several phases their number 13 scored under the post 10-41, with the final whistle not long after.
Overall Aylesbury thoroughly deserved their victory, although Wycombe never gave up and battled to the end. Wycombe suffered several injuries who hopefully will be ok for next week’s trip to Beaconsfield.
