Sat 10 Dec 2016
After a turbulent week for the club it was good to get to playing rugby. With both teams on a bad run of form a win for either team was very important, although the weather did not allow for running rugby. In wet conditions, it was Bletchley who made the better start with their fly half kicking well for position and this forced Wycombe deep into their own half. From a lineout on the five-metre line Bletchley camped near the Wycombe line but the defence held out and the Bletchley fly half was forced into a drop kick on the twenty-two to put Bletchley 3-0 up. Wycombe were finding possession hard to come by, but from a scrum on the half way line inside centre Tom Boardman made a fantastic break, but was stopped just short of the line. Wycombe retained the ball and after several pick and goes second row Jack Taplin forced his way over the line, Ben Lockhart made the conversion 3-7. A few minutes later from a scrum another strong run from the impressive Tom Boardman took him into the Bletchley twenty-two, this time he managed to offload the ball to flanker Josh Hall who had the pace to evade the Bletchley tacklers to score under the post, with the kick made by Ben Lockhart 3-14.
Although the scoreline was in Wycombe’s favour territory and possession wasn’t and for the rest of the half Wycombe struggled to get out of their own twenty-two. Eventually the pressure told and the Bletchley flanker scored, with the conversion good 10-14. Bletchley continued to dominate and from a missed kick to touch ran the ball back but were held up over the line and Wycombe managed to holdout until half time 10-14. Unfortunately, just before half time Wycombe lost Captain Ian Burnham to an ankle injury and he would not take any further part in the game.
Wycombe started the second half brightly and from an up and under Ben Lockhart gathered the ball and side-stepped his opposite number to make a break into the Bletchley half, from the ensuing ruck Bletchley were penalised which set up a lineout in the Bletchley twenty-two. From the lineout, Greg Butters broke through several tackles and although Wycombe managed to retain the ball they were held up over the line. From the scrum number eight Eddie Roach picked up from the base and went over to score, with the kick missed 10 – 19. Wycombe were then let off the hook when Bletchley put several phases together but with the line at his mercy the winger knocked on and Wycombe managed to clear their lines. Bletchley were then reduced to 14 men when another break from Tom was only stopped by a high tackle from the Bletchley second row. Whilst down to 14 players Bletchley were penalised deep in their own half for holding onto the ball at a ruck, and Wycombe kicked for touch. From the lineout, Wycombe set up a rolling maul which allowed Jack Taplin to score, kick missed 10-24. From the restart, Wycombe cleared their lines with the ball falling to the Bletchley back line who decided to run the ball back, but were stopped on the half way line. Somehow at the ruck the ball came loose and was picked up by flanker Gabriel Mikurenda and with no whistle from the referee sprinted into the corner to score, kick missed 10-29.
From the kick-off, Bletchley fell off tackles and Wycombe carried the ball through the forwards up to the halfway, the ball was spun out to debutant fly half Freddie Roddick who made a fantastic break beating a number of defenders to score, Ben made the kick 10-36. In the dying seconds of the game Bletchley scored in the corner to make the final score 15-36.
Overall an excellent win in very difficult conditions, a special mention must go to young debutant Freddie Roddick who controlled the game well at fly half. Let’s hope Wycombe can build on this performance next week with a trip to Buckingham.
