After last weeks narrow defeat to Aylesbury, Wycombe entertained third placed Bicester. Since the teams last met in October Bicester had only lost once to league leaders Windsor so Wycombe knew they would be in for a tough game. With Ollie and Jake unavailable Tom Catchpole and James Outten moved into the centres with Osian Lewis and Greg Butters coming into the team. In the forwards back in came Ayrton Hooker and Zak Gregory.

Wycombe started strongly and two big carries from Ayrton Hooker put Wycombe on the front foot. With quick ball the ball was spun wide and a strong carry from Osian Lewis took play up to the Bicester twenty-two. He timed his pass to perfection to put Mitch Green away who looked as if he was going to score, but some excellent defence hauled him down two metres from the line. With support arriving quickly Bicester were forced into conceding a cynical penalty and the referee awarded a penalty try with the Bicester player receiving a yellow card 7-0.  From a penalty at a scrum Bicester were able to take play into the Wycombe twenty-two and an impressive rolling maul took play close to the line, some strong Wycombe defence kept the away team at bay and forced Bicester to knock on. Wycombe were showing with ball in hand they were dangerous and a neat sidestep from Captain Tom Boardman created a break into the opposition half but on this occasion the pass didn’t go to hand and the away team were able to clear. A poor Wycombe lineout handed Bicester possession and a high tackle in midfield gave the away team a penalty in front of the posts and they opted for the kick at goal 7-3.  After the kick-off a fantastic clearing kick from Matt Wardle gave Bicester a lineout on their ten metre line. Good work from Alex Chitan secured the ball and some excellent continuity took play ten metres from the line. With space in behind the defence Matt Wardle put in an accurate kick which was picked up by Dan Kier who was helped over the line by Matt to score, with the kick made 14-3. Bicester hit back on the stroke of half time when Wycombe were penalised in front of their post and they took the three points on offer 14-6.

Half Time 14-6

Wycombe started the second half strongly and an accurate grubber kick from Matt Wardle forced the Bicester defence to tackle him without the ball. Unfortunately, the penalty didn’t make touch and Bicester cleared. The kick stayed in play and the away team’s forwards were penalised for being in front of the kicker which gave Wycombe a penalty eight metres from the line. With the defence trying to get back into position Joff Forber took a quick tap and went over to score an opportunist try, kick made 19-6. Wycombe added to their score when an overthrown lineout was snaffled by Tom Boardman. With the ball recycled a strong carry by Alex Chitan took play deep into the Bicester twenty-two. He fed the ball out to Matt Wardle who held off several tackles to go over and score, kick made 26-6.  Bicester hit back and a clever break from their full back took play up to the line, eventually the big Bicester forwards went over to score 26-13. It was the away team who added to their total when Wycombe were penalised in front of their posts for holding on and Bicester duly took the three points on offer. 26-16. Wycombe were struggling to find the continuity they had shown earlier in the game and ill-discipline was costing them field position. With the referee seemingly losing patience Mike Fradgley was yellow carded for being offside at a ruck. Bicester drove the kick close to the Wycombe line and from the lineout set up a rolling maul. Wycombe defended stoutly and held up the maul but for some reason the scrum was given to the away team. A solid scrum edged its way forward and allowed the Bicester number eight to pick up and score 26-21. With just over ten minutes and five points between the teams the game was up for grabs. Up stepped Harry Tanner who had not long been on the field. With Bicester securing a lineout the ball was fed out to the backs and a long pass in midfield was expertly read by Harry who intercepted the ball on the half way line, and he had the pace to run the ball back to score under the post, kick made 33-21. With the home team now back to fifteen players Wycombe were able to see out the rest of the game with no alarms and came away with a well-earned victory.

A fantastic team performance from all eighteen players. Against a strong Bicester team Wycombe moved the ball with confidence and scored some excellent tries. In defence the boys worked hard for each other chopping down their big forwards.

Next Match – Saturday 9^th February Buckingham Away (just a note the re-arranged Marlow game has been moved and is not on the 2^nd February due to Marlow playing Wallingford in the Intermediate Cup)

Man of the Match

Alex Chitan

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It was hard to choose with so many good performances, but Alex was dangerous in attack making several breaks and set up Matt Wardle for his try. In defence he never missed a tackle displaying excellent technique in chopping down much bigger players.