by Matt Lewis

With winter arriving, a youthful Wycombe side took on a strong Buckingham side in round 6 of the Wadsworth Southern Counties North. The home team handed two debuts to Colts players Ben Roddick and James Shuck with Lawrence Webster starting only his second game for the first team. 

The game started with both teams showing their intent to run the ball. Some early ill-discipline forced Wycombe to defend but some forceful tackling forced Buckingham into conceding a penalty. Due to a strong wind the clearing penalty didn’t make touch and the ball was carried back and an accurate kick pinned Harry Tanner deep inside his twenty-two. He passed the ball to Matt Wardle who broke through several tackles and took play outside the twenty-two, he fed the ball out to Ollie Fennell-Wells who took play into the Buckingham half. He offloaded to Jake Banton who skipped around the last defender to score under the post to cap a length of the field try; Matt Wardle made the conversion 7-0. From the kick-off Wycombe failed to gather the ball and were penalised, Buckingham kicked for goal and took the three points 7-3. From a knock-on in midfield Wycombe were presented with a scrum just inside the Buckingham half. A strong scrum handed the home team with front foot ball and a smart break from Ben Roddick took play into the twenty-two. With the ball recycled quickly Matt Wardle kicked in behind the defense, the ball ricocheted off the Buckingham winger straight back to him. He intelligently kicked the ball forward and had time to pick the ball up and dive over the line to score, kick missed 12-3. Wycombe continued to pressure the away team and from the kick off the ball was well gathered, Matt Wardle sent up a big up and under. This was well taken by the Buckingham winger, but he was immediately tackled and some strong work over the ball from Ollie Fennell-Wells forced the away team into conceding a penalty. The ball was driven into the twenty-two for an attacking lineout. Buckingham competed at the lineout and managed to get a hand on the ball but could only palm it down, this fell into the hands of Alex Chietan who galloped towards the line. With only the winger to beat he powered through the tackle to score, with the kick missed 17-3.

Wycombe weren’t finished yet, from a scrum on the half way line Wycombe pushed Buckingham off their own ball. Seeing space down the blind side the ball was fed out to Ollie Fennell-Wells who put Osian Lewis through a gap and he offloaded to James Shuck. With the defense scrambling across an accurate pass back inside to Ollie Fennell-Wells put him into space, he had the pace to go around the last defender and score. With the kick made 24-3. Just before half time Buckingham crossed for their first try when some good continuity was rewarded with a try in the corner with the kick made 24-10

Half time 24-10

Wycombe knew that Buckingham would up their game in the second half and for the first ten minutes the away team were on the front foot. Wycombe were penalised for offside in midfield and this gave the accurate Buckingham kicker an easy three points, 24-13.  With Buckingham on top only some great work form Jake Banton prevented a Buckingham try when he turned and chased an excellent grubber kick diving on the ball just before the Buckingham player. Wycombe were finding it difficult to get out of their half and an over thrown lineout presented the away team with front foot ball. Some strong defense kept Buckingham out and held the ball up over the line. At the scrum Wycombe were going forward but according to the referee illegally. Buckingham took a quick tap and managed to bulldozer there way over the line, with the kick made 24-20.

Wycombe regained their composure and from a penalty set up an attacking lineout on the twenty-two. With the line secured an audacious dummy from Matt Wardle put him through a gap in the defense with the ever-present Ollie Fennell-Wells on his shoulder he fed Ollie to score, with the kick good 31-20. Buckingham were chasing the game and from a knock on in midfield Rob Johnson made a break and took play inside the twenty-two. Buckingham were penalised and received a yellow card, Wycombe opted for the kick at goal, but the kick hit the post and was cleared.  

From a deep twenty- two restart Wycombe knocked on and although did well at the scrum Buckingham held on to the ball. An excellent cross field kick forced the home team to scramble the ball into touch on the five metre line. Buckingham won the lineout and after several phases scored 31-27. Not to be deterred another excellent break down the right touchline from Matt Wardle took Wycombe out of their own half. An intelligent kick forced Buckingham to field the ball just short of their line and a great chase forced them to turn over the ball and Wycombe were held up over the line. Another strong scrum was fed out to the backs and after several phases another break from Matt Wardle was this time well supported by winger Harry Tanner, he took the pass to score under the posts for his first try of the season. The kick was made by Matt Wardle 38-27. With only minutes remaining Wycombe finally had some breathing room and although they received a yellow card and Buckingham scored with the last play of the match 38-34, Wycombe came away with a well-deserved victory.

Full Time 38-34

An excellent victory for a young Wycombe team, it is great to see so many players coming through the youth system to represent the first team. Finally, Wycombe put together an 80 minute performance which they had been threatening all season. Next week a tough away fixture against league leaders Windsor

Man of the match

Ollie Fennell-Wells & Jake Banton

A fantastic midfield partnership in attack and defense with both getting on the score sheet.

sponsored by