Sat 9 Dec 2017
On a bitterly cold afternoon High Wycombe travelled to Oxfordshire to take on Gosford All Blacks. With the sides separated by one place and 5 points in the league this was going to be an important match for both teams.
The game started evenly with both teams securing possession, but handling errors stopped any meaningful attacks. A knock on at a lineout presented Gosford with a scrum on their ten metre line and the ball was spun out to the backs and into the hands of their dangerous outside centre. He burst through a tackle, took play into the Wycombe half and intelligent pass back inside sent Gosford’s fly half away to score, with the kick missed 5-0. With their tails up Gosford looked to put Wycombe’s defense under pressure using their forwards to gain field position, but a great rip from Charlie Edwards turned over possession and Wycombe had a chance to counter attack. The ball was passed through the hands and fed out to Winger Sibu Zulu who found himself in space, he showed good pace to go around his opposite number and with little support put in a kick which bounced awkwardly near the Gosford line. In trying to grab the ball Gosford knocked on and the ball was kicked forward over the line and fly half Joe Openshaw who had not given up the chase scored the try, kick missed 5-5. Gosford were not helping their cause with unforced errors and another opportunity presented itself when from a lineout a wayward pass went to ground and was snaffled by number eight Charlie Edwards, although he had half the length of the pitch and the Gosford backs chasing him he showed tremendous pace to outstrip the covering defenders and score under the posts, with the kick made by Joe Openshaw 5-12. Gosford hit back immediately, from the kick off Wycombe were penalised at a ruck and the Gosford fly half took the three points 8-12. For the remainder of the half both teams worked hard but couldn’t add to the score line and at half-time the score was 8-12.
At the start of the second half the Wycombe were pegged back inside their own half although they eventually regained possession they were then penalised for holding on at a ruck. The penalty was in front of the post and the Gosford fly half took the three points 11-12. Wycombe hit back and some excellent kicking from Joe Openshaw gave Wycombe good field position and a lineout on the Gosford twenty-two. An accurate lineout throw set up a maul which rumbled its way to the five metre line but was stopped illegally by the home team. Captain Tom Boardman elected for another lineout, but this was stolen, the clearing kick was charged down and Wycombe were now on the attack. A strong run from Aryton Hooker took play close to the line but his offload was adjudged forward, and Gosford cleared.
Some intelligent kicking pinned Wycombe inside their twenty-two and a wayward clearing kick handed possession back to the home team who made inroads into the visitors twenty-two. With an overlap on the right hand side the was ball moved out to the backs but another wayward pass went to ground and center Harry Tanner scooped up the ball ten metres from his own line. With the full back in the attacking line Harry had the length of the pitch at his mercy and although the Gosford fly half tried to get back he didn’t have the pace to catch him and Harry went in under the posts, Joe Openshaw made the kick 11-19. With fifteen minutes to go Wycombe were given the opportunity to extend their lead when the home team were penalised for not releasing at a ruck. After some discussion the kick tee came onto the pitch and Joe Openshaw took the three points and Wycombe took the lead out to two scores 11-22. Gosford continued to fight hard and took a scrum against the head which presented them with the ball inside the Wycombe twenty-two. The away teams defense held firm and managed to hold the ball up in the tackle, as the referee called for the ball to be used prop Artyon Hooker managed to rip the ball out of the maul and carry it out of his twenty-two, the ball was passed out to Sibu who made a great break into the Gosford half he then cut inside and offloaded the ball to James Outten who had run a great line and went in untouched to score a great length of the field try, Joe Openshaw made the kick 11-29. With only minutes remaining Wycombe were assured of victory, but to Gosford’s credit they never gave up and attacked the visitor’s line. From a five metre scrum an accurate cross field kick allowed the home team’s winger to score 16-29 and the final whistle sounded.
Man of the Match – Osian Lewis
Next week a home match against third place Windsor.
