Sat 1 Feb 2020, 14:15
Aylesbury RFC 21 – 23 High Wycombe RFC
High Wycombe made the short journey to take on Aylesbury in the Southern Counties North League fixture. With Aylesbury sitting second in the league and unbeaten at home this was always going to be a tough afternoon. In selection, Wycombe were without a host of players due to injury, illness and unavailability. Into the starting fifteen came Anton Silvey, James Mawby (for his first game of the season), Mike Fradgley and in the backs Wayne Garstang (debut) Anthony Farthing, Njabs Zulu and Toby Payne.
With a strong wind blowing across the pitch it was the hosts who kicked off. A high hanging kick was well taken by Dan Kier who shipped the ball out to Joff Forber. His quick feet and change of pace took him around the oncoming defence and into the opposition half. It looked like he was going to score when he only had the last defender to beat but a strong tap tackle brought him down inside the twenty two. The ball was recycled immediately and moved out wide but an errant pass into touch let the home team off the hook. Although no points were scored this was an encouraging start for the visitors and got better when strong work at the breakdown forced the home team into conceding a penalty. An accurate kick took play up to the twenty-two, with the lineout won Wycombe made inroads into the defence. Another penalty for offside allowed Billy Bickford to take the three points 0-3. Wycombe were penalised straight from the kick-off and pinned back inside their twenty-two. Some robust work from forwards and backs eventually allowed Kazeem Olayinka to go over and score, with Nicky Mercer adding the difficult two points, 7-3. Not to be deterred Wycombe hit back when a knock on presented the visitors with an attacking scrum on the twenty two. A solid set piece was given out to the backs and a great line from debutant Wayne Garstang allowed him to cut through the defence untouched to score, with the kick missed 7-8. Wycombe were once again on the front foot when an accurate Matt Wardle kicked pinned the host inside their twenty-two. With Aylesbury trying to play their way out Billy Bickford intercepted the ball and fed Mike Fradgley who was stopped metres from the line by a high tackle. Captain Tom Boardman opted for a scrum, with it moving towards the line the scrum collapsed and Aylesbury’s Robbie Phillips was yellow carded. Another scrum was called, this time it was edging forward but number eight Joff Forber picked up from the base and knocked on in the tackle. A penalty at the resulting scrum allowed the home team to clear. A well worked Aylesbury lineout set up a rolling maul which made inroads into the Wycombe half. With the ball spun out to the backs a little chip in behind the defence was well fielded by Toby Payne and two quick passes saw Njabs show his pace out wide and carry the ball into the twenty two. The home team were once again penalised this time for coming in at the side of the ruck. Wycombe lost the lineout, but the clearing kick was sliced giving the away team another chance. This time the lineout was accurate and strong carries from the forwards took the ball over the line, but the Aylesbury forwards managed to get their bodies underneath and the ball was held up. A solid scrum was fed out to the backs and a slightly fortuitous bounce pass was scooped up by Billy Bickford who skipped past his man and fed the ball to Wayne Garstang who scored his second try of the afternoon, Billy Bickford’s kick was good 7-15. For the last five minutes of the half strong defence enabled Wycombe to take the lead into half time.
Half Time 7-15
After surrendering a healthy half time lead last time out it was important Wycombe started the second half strongly. Unfortunately, Aylesbury had other ideas and after a sustained period of pressure Ben Dukes went over and scored, with Nicky Mercer adding the extra’s 14-15. An excellent hanging restart was allowed to bounce with an Aylesbury player knocking it into touch. This allowed Wycombe to exert some pressure and an excellent line from Dan Kier put him through a hole only to be hauled down metres from the line. The ball was recycled quickly but a knock on halted the attack and the home team cleared. Aylesbury were often finding themselves on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle and two quick penalties in succession gave Billy Bickford the opportunity to add three points which he duly took, 14-18. Aylesbury’s big forwards were beginning to get on top and from a lineout on the halfway line they set up a maul which took them twenty metres down the pitch and was only stopped illegally. The penalty was kicked to touch, with the lineout won good continuity from both the forwards and backs enabled second row Corey Neighbour to go over and score, with Mercer adding the extra’s 21-18. With just over five minutes to go it looked like Wycombe had blown another half time lead, but the visitors dug deep and were awarded a scrum when they managed to hold up a maul. With the ball secured a fine half break from Billy Bickford allowed him to get his arms free and move the ball out to Henry Pearman (on for the injured Wayne Garstang) he found himself in behind the defence and was only dragged down metres from the line. With support close by Njabs Zulu fed the ball out to Matt Wardle who angled his run to go over and score, kick missed 21-23. With just over minute left Aylesbury secured the restart and threw everything they had at Wycombe, after some strong carriers they knocked on and Wycombe came away with a fantastic victory.
Full Time 21-23
This was an absorbing game of rugby between two teams who tried to play good rugby despite the conditions. To be fair this game could have gone either way and Aylesbury will feel disappointed they didn’t get more from the game. As for Wycombe this was possibly their best performance of the season. Considering there were ten regular players missing and Aylesbury were unbeaten at home to come away with a win is a fantastic achievement. Credit must be given to the youth section as they are constantly producing players who seamlessly make their way into the first team with the winning try a combination of Billy, Henry and Jabs. Massive congratulations to all the players and this will certainly give the selection committee some headaches for next week’s Bucks Cup Semi-Final away to Amersham and Chiltern.
Man of the Match – Wayne Garstang – He scored two tries and was always a threat with ball in hand. In defence he made some big hits forcing opposition players backwards. Made even better as this was his debut for the first team.
