Sat 8 Sep 2018
With a new season upon us, High Wycombe opened their Southern Counties North campaign with a trip to newly promoted Slough. With excellent numbers during pre-season hopes were high that we could start the year with a win.
The game started with Wycombe on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle which gave Slough field position, but some solid defence meant this came to nothing. The game was being dominated by penalties and when Slough were offside in midfield Wycombe took play inside the Slough twenty-two. From an excellent lineout the ball was fed out to Matt Wardle who dummied and broke two tackles to score under the post, Matt also slotted the conversion to give the away team a 0-7 lead. From the restart another penalty enabled Wycombe to clear their lines and take play into the Slough half. Although the lineout was knocked on and possession lost, Slough were once again penalised when they went off their feet at a ruck which gave Matt Wardle a penalty in front of the post. He duly took the three points on offer 0-10. More ill-discipline gave Wycombe another penalty when an overthrown lineout was hacked forward by a Wycombe boot, it fell to the Slough winger who kicked it forward but straight to a team mate who was standing offside. An excellent kick from Matt Wardle took play into the twenty-two. Unfortunately, a mistake in midfield meant the attack came to nothing but from the scrum Wycombe turned over the ball and a good run from Osian Lewis took play to the 5-metre line where Slough once again infringed. This set up a passage of play with Wycombe encamped on the Slough line. During this period prop Aryton Hooker was held up over the line, Slough conceded another three penalties, but no further action was taken. Wycombe were also guilty of not taking their opportunities when they were presented. Slough looked to have survived the Wycombe pressure and were awarded a scrum from a knock on. At the scrum the Slough number eight failed to control the ball and scrum half Lewis Davenport scooped up the ball and fed centre Jake Banton who crashed over the line, with Matt Wardle making the kick 0-17. With no more meaningful action there was no further score until after half time.
HALF TIME 0-17
Initially the second half started well, and a penalty gave the away team a lineout on the opposition twenty-two, but a knock on in midfield and then a penalty handed the initiative to Slough. They upped the tempo and went quickly, some good hands and direct running enabled them to run half the length of the pitch to score, 7-17. This seemed to unsettle Wycombe and some basic errors were creeping into their game. From the restart Slough cleared to touch but at the lineout Wycombe knocked on. The home team pounced on the ball and carried well into the Wycombe half, more good hands down the left-hand side saw them score in the corner, an excellent kick made it 14-17. From looking comfortable Wycombe were now in a real fight and with both sides tiring the game was up for grabs. The away team showed good character and were next on the score sheet when an excellent turnover gave them possession on the half way line. Some accurate passing put Jake Banton away who showed good pace to outstrip the defence and score in the corner, with the kick missed 14-22. Having regained their composure Wycombe were now again on top and an excellent break from scrum half Lewis Davenport took him up to the twenty-two with only the full back to beat, but unfortunately his pass didn’t go to hand and Slough were able to clear. Slough hit back and from a penalty set up a lineout on the Wycombe twenty-two, some good continuity resulted in a try in the corner and another excellent kick made the score 21-22 with over ten minutes remaining. Wycombe managed the last ten minutes well and had another opportunity to score when an excellent scrum forced a Slough mistake and Wycombe regathered the ball. An excellent through kick from Matt Wardle gave winger Harry Tanner the chance to score but the bounce of the ball just evaded him and minutes later the game ended.
FULL TIME 21-22
Overall a win is a win, but Wycombe need to take their opportunities when they are presented. Slough played their part in a game which at the end could have gone either way.
MOM – Alex Chietan sponsored by
