Sat 3 Feb 2018
After last weeks victory against Thatcham, High Wycombe hoped to put in another strong performance against Wallingford, unfortunately due to injuries and unavailability only sixteen players made the trip to Oxfordshire. Into the starting XV came Aryton Hooker, Joff Forber, Josh Hall and Ian Cartwright.
On another cold and wet afternoon, it was Wallingford who started the strongest with their powerful forwards carrying hard making inroads into the Wycombe defence. After ten minutes of pressure Wallingford were awarded a scrum on the ten-metre line, a solid scrum enabled the ball to be passed out to the backs and some accurate running lines created space for their winger to make a break down the touchline. With the cover defence coming across an intelligent pass back inside enabled the home team to score in the corner, with the kick missed 5-0. Wycombe still hadn’t made an impression on the game although a great turnover from Tom Catchpole handed the away team possession, but a wayward pass in midfield was kicked through by a Wallingford boot and they regained the ball. Seeing that the defence was not set a kick was put in behind, fortunately for Wycombe they just managed to win the race to touch the ball down. Wycombe still struggled to get out of their half and after a knock on at a lineout Wallingford were awarded a scrum, they secured possession and went through the phases. Wycombe were then penalised for being offside in front of their own posts, Wallingford took the three points 10-0. After twenty minutes Wycombe got themselves into the game, from an up and under which neither team could secure the ball fell to Joff Forber who made an excellent break deep into the twenty-two where he was eventually hauled down. The forwards supported well and continued to carry towards the line, eventually after seven phases Captain Tom Boardman muscled his way over the line to score, Joe Openshaw made the kick 10-7. This try buoyed the away team and they were now playing the game in the opposition half with some accurate kicking from fly half Matt Wardle and were pressuring the Wallingford lineout. At a scrum the home team were penalised for feeding, Wycombe took the free kick and carried hard into the twenty-two where they received another penalty. Some quick thinking from scrum half Joe Openshaw took the penalty immediately and with the defence backing off carried the ball up to the line where he passed out to Matt Wardle to score, Joe Openshaw made the conversion 10-14. From the restart some precise kicking put Wycombe into the opposition half, a great steal at the lineout and some strong carries from the forwards put the away team on the front foot, the ball eventually came out to the backs where Matt Wardle went over for the try, kick made by Joe Openshaw 10-21. Not to be deterred Wallingford hit back on the stroke of half time after being awarded a penalty they kicked to touch just short of the Wycombe line. They secured the ball and eventually went over for the try out wide, the kick was missed, and the half time whistle sounded 15-21.
With conditions becoming increasingly greasy looking after the ball was imperative and it was Wallingford who made the first mistake of the second half. A knock on fell to Tom Boardman who scooped up the ball and ran hard into the twenty-two, he was hauled down just short of the line and the ball was fed out to the backs but some inaccurate passing and then a forward pass couldn’t take advantage of an overlap. At the scrum Wycombe exerted big pressure and were awarded a penalty, they kicked to touch but the throw was not straight, and Wallingford were able to clear their lines from the scrum. Wycombe continued to attack but were once again penalised by the referee, the clearing kick was sliced and Wallingford had a lineout on their twenty-two. Wycombe once again pressurised the lineout and forced Wallingford into touch. Securing the ball at the lineout the forwards kept it tight and were awarded a penalty. Matt Wardle kicked to touch five metres out, with the ball secured a maul was formed but the home team defended well and stopped it moving forward. Seeing the space on the blindside Matt Wardle was fed the ball and went over for his third try and the teams fourth, Joe missed the kick 15-26. Wycombe knew they couldn’t relax and a few minutes later were given a big let off when an excellent chip was chased down and with the line at his mercy the Wallingford player knocked on in trying to gather the ball. With conditions increasingly difficult both teams were guilty of making errors and play centred around the halfway line for the next ten minutes, Will Outten came on for Josh Hall in the backrow.
Overall an extremely entertaining game in difficult conditions between two evenly matched teams. Wycombe have now won two games in a row against strong opposition and are playing some good rugby. With a more settled squad and players returning from injury hopefully we can build on these performances in two weeks at home against Reading Abbey
