By Matt Lewis

Something had to give when two unbeaten teams met at Kingsmead as High Wycombe entertained Wallingford. In selection, Wycombe were able to welcome back a host of players and field their strongest side of the season, ten of which came through the highly successful youth system.

The home team started strongly and a break from Joff Forber took play into the Wallingford half. Some ill-discipline from Wallingford gave Wycombe good field position and Jake Banton went close to scoring but was held up just short off the line. With the referee playing advantage for coming in at the side of a ruck the home team took the penalty quickly and excellent continuity allowed Craig Murray to go over and score 5-0. An accurate boot from Matt Wardle put Wycombe in good field position and although Wallingford secured their own lineout some excellent defence in the midfield forced a wayward pass. Jake Banton scooped up the bouncing ball and looked as though he would score under the posts but just couldn’t get his arms free to place the ball down and knocked on over the line.  Strong pressure at the scrum forced the Wallingford number eight to pick up the ball but he was tackled immediately which allowed Craig Murray to get over the ball and win the home team a penalty. Captain Tom Boardman opted for a scrum and a well worked move from the base enabled scrum half Toby Lane to get over the line, but he was adjudged to have been held up. Another scrum was this time fed out to the backs where Jake Banton showed great strength to brush of two tackles and score 10-0. Wallingford hit back when a series of penalties gave the them a relatively easy shot at goal and took the three points, 10-3. The home team hit back when some strong work from the forwards managed to turnover the ball in a maul. The ball was fed out to Jamie Vowles who broke through the first line of defence he drew the last defender and put Matt Wardle away to score in the corner, 15-3. Wycombe were gifted field position when Wallingford spoke out of turn to the referee. A fine kick and accurate lineout put Wycombe on the front foot with Jake Banton and Craig Murray making yards into the twenty-two. With Wycombe camped on the Wallingford line an excellent carry from Captain Tom Boardman enabled him to go over and score, kick good 22-3.

Half Time 22-3

Wycombe made an explosive start to the second half with two Lewis Davenport tries in as many minutes. The first came for a smart Matt Wardle chip which was gathered by Jake Banton who made a break into the Wallingford half. The ball was recycled quickly and some quick hands from the backs put winger Davenport away to score, with the kick made 29-3. The restart (which was normally excellent) went out on the full and gave the home team a scrum on halfway. Proficient work from now number eight Joff Forber and a half break Jake Banton put Lewis Davenport away for his second try in as many minutes 36-3. If Wycombe thought they were going to run away with the second half they were wrong. Wallingford continued to work hard and had moments when they put the home team under pressure. As for Wycombe they defended excellently but were falling foul of the referee’s whistle conceding numerous penalties. From one of those penalties Wallingford set up a lineout just short of the line and an accurate throw allowed them to secure possession. After several carries, they eventually went over to score in the corner, 36-8. A good hanging restart was knocked on presenting Wycombe with a scrum on the twenty-two. A solid set piece put the home team on the front foot and a fantastic line from Craig Murray saw him collect the ball and score under the posts, Tom Bosley made the kick 43-8. There was more frustration as Wycombe were continually penalised by the referee meaning that the home team had to wait until the last play to score their final points. Another terrific break from Joff Forber took play into the Wallingford half with the ball recycled Ollie Fennel-Wells spotted a gap in the defence and ghosted through to score, kick made 50-8.

Full Time 50-8

This was an impressive victory over a combative Wallingford team and shows what Wycombe are capable of when they have everyone available. There will be some frustration that they didn’t score more tries and must cut out the number of penalties conceded. Finally, it is great to see so many of the team come through the youth system to represent first team.

Man of the Match

James Vowles

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