Sat 20 Jan 2018
High Wycombe travelled to Gloucestershire to play fellow strugglers Stow knowing a victory would ease their relegation fears. With heavy rain prior to the match conditions were going to be difficult to play any flowing rugby and in the first twenty minutes both teams were guilty of handling errors. Wycombe’s best moment came from a Joe Openshaw up and under which was well taken by Jake Banton but as the forwards built some momentum towards the line a knock on stopped the attack. The away teams next opportunity came from a sliced clearance which was again well taken by Jake Banton he fed Harry Tanner on the wing who put in an intelligent kick which was gathered by the Stow defence just short of the try line, a good chase forced the ball to be taken over the line to force a scrum five metres out. Wycombe gained possession but after a few phases some good Stow defence turned over the ball and cleared their lines. Wycombe continued to play the game inside the Stow half but couldn’t create any clear-cut chances. From a knock-on Stow were awarded a scrum inside their twenty-two but a great effort from the Wycombe pack pushed them off their own ball but a knock on in open play stopped any momentum.
A combination of nice offloading and poor Wycombe tackling enabled Stow to make inroads into Wycombe’s twenty-two but were then penalised at a ruck close to the Wycombe line. The away team cleared their lines but then took a man out without the ball to give Stow a penalty in front of the posts and they duly took the 3 points, 3-0. With half time approaching a strong run from Mike Fradgley gave Wycombe possession five metres from the line. Aryton gathered the ball but some good defence held him up short of the line, as the referee asked for the ball to be used it appeared to be ripped free and prop Henry Wyse fell on the ball over the line, unfortunately for Wycombe the referee adjudged the ball had been knocked on and blew for half time. 3-0.
Stow started the second half on the front foot and were awarded a penalty for Wycombe going in at the side, Stow decided to take a shot at goal but missed the kick and the score remained 3-0. More Stow pressure led to a scrum on the twenty-two, a great scrum (which was now dominant) from Wycombe put pressure on the Stow scrum half but he did well to get the ball away, a good scissors move, and some missed tackles enabled the dangerous Stow centre to go in under the posts, with the kick made 10-0.
The Wycombe scrum put Stow under big pressure and forced them to retreat, with the scrum going forward and Stow’s backrow disengaged no penalty was awarded and Wycombe were told to use the ball, the forwards carried well but the ball was deemed to be short and another scrum five metres was awarded. Again, another excellent scrum saw Wycombe moving forward towards the line, with the Stow backrow not bound and their second row almost at right angles Wycombe were once again not awarded a penalty and number eight Eddie Roche was forced to play the ball under pressure and knocked on. Understandably frustrated Wycombe then spoke out of turn to the referee and were marched back 20 metres. With only minutes to go Wycombe never threatened the Stow line again and it finished 10-5.
Overall a frustrating afternoon, a match Wycombe could and probably should have won. Stow played well and looked dangerous in the backs, Wycombe’s forwards were excellent, and a special mention must go to the front row of Aryton, Rob and Henry who dominated their opposite number. Wycombe will feel they were at the wrong end of some of the referee’s decisions and on another day may have had a different outcome.
Next week a tough home match against Thatcham.
Man of the Match - Josh Phillips
