Sat 16 Sep 2017
High Wycombe made the short trip to Oak Lodge Meadow for a local derby against Beaconsfield. The two teams had contrasting starts to the season with High Wycombe losing narrowly at home to Reading whilst Beaconsfield won away at Gosford All Blacks. Wycombe made a reasonable start carrying hard into contact but Beaconsfield defended well, turned over the ball and kicked through unfortunately Wycombe knocked on to give Beaconsfield a scrum inside their twenty two. From the scrum Beaconsfield spun the ball out to their backs who looked dangerous and only some scrambling defence kept them out, Beaconsfield were able to recycle the ball and with a two man overlap scored in the corner with the kick made 7-0. From the restart Wycombe snaffled the ball and through some strong running and offloading made good ground and forced Beaconsfield into conceding two penalties. Some accurate kicking from Matt Wardle set up a lineout inside the Beaconsfield twenty two from which Wycombe were awarded a scrum from a knock on. A solid scrum put Wycombe on the front foot but Beaconsfield defended well and the ball was held up over the line. This time Wycombe weren’t to be denied with number eight Craig Murray picking up from the base of the scrum and shrugged off two tackles to score at the base of the post, with the kick made by Matt Wardle 7-7. Immediately from the kick off Wycombe were penalised for holding on at a ruck which presented Beaconsfield with an easy three points, 10-7. Beaconsfield were now on the front foot and were benefiting from some accurate kicking to pin Wycombe back deep inside their own half. From a lineout, Beaconsfield once again used their backs and a good running line enabled the Beaconsfield centre to score under the post with the kick made 17-7. Wycombe were struggling for territory and any mistake was being punished and a penalty enabled the Beaconsfield fly half to add another three points 20-7. It was now Wycombe’s turn to exert some pressure on the Beaconsfield defence and were rewarded with a penalty which set up a lineout inside the Beaconsfield twenty-two. Wycombe secured the lineout and set up a rolling maul which Beaconsfield stopped illegally. Scrum half Tom Pearce took a quick tap penalty and was stopped just short of the line, Wycombe recycled the ball but under pressure Craig Murray knocked on over the line. A fantastic scrum put huge pressure on the Beaconsfield eight although they gained possession they were tackled over their own try line and Wycombe were awarded the scrum. At the scrum Beaconsfield were once again penalised and Wycombe tapped the penalty but a knock on in midfield allowed Beaconsfield to clear. Problems at the lineout presented Beaconsfield with the ball, they cleared deep into the Wycombe half and a sliced return set up a lineout in a good position. Wycombe defended the lineout and rolling maul well but more good running lines in the centres enabled Beaconsfield to score with the kick made 27-7 and half time.
Wycombe couldn’t have wished for a worse start to the second half, their clearing kick was charged down and bounced straight into the hands of a Beaconsfield player who went in untouched under the posts, kick made 34-7. At this point Wycombe suffered a big blow losing Captain Craig Murray to a shoulder injury after a heavy collision with the Beaconsfield second row.
Wycombe regained their composure and for the next twenty five minutes enjoyed the majority of the territory and possession enjoying a number of lineouts and scrums near the opposition line. Some good defence and misplaced passing from Wycombe ensured the Beaconsfield line wasn’t breached. Wycombe continued to build pressure on the defence and the once solid lineout was faltering with Wycombe pinching Beaconsfield ball, this in turn forced Beaconsfield into conceding a plethora of penalties. From a five-metre scrum Wycombe’s dominance finally told, a strong carry from Mike Fradgley was recycled and prop Aryton Hooker crashed over, kick missed 34-12. Some good carries from the kick off were undone when Wycombe knocked on. From the scrum a simple eight, nine move created space for the Beaconsfield winger to score, kick made 41-12. With minutes to go some weak tackling allowed Beaconsfield to carry the ball from inside their own half, they recycled the ball and with an overlap scored with the kick made 48-12 and the final whistle.
