Sat 15 Feb 2020
High Wycombe RUFC 15 – 10 Bicester RUFC
High Wycombe continued their good league form with a hard fought victory in tough conditions against Bicester. In selection, Wycombe welcomed back (from their last league game) Ayrton Hooker, Jake Cockram, Craig Murray and Jake Banton. With the weather deteriorating and the rain getting heavier by the minute it was always going to be tough to play good rugby. It was evident from the kick-off that the two teams would go about trying to win the game in contrasting styles. The home team despite the conditions were happy to use their backs and play a more expansive game whereas Bicester would use their big forwards and play close to the ruck. It was Bicester who had the first opportunity when two quick penalties pinned the home team deep inside their twenty-two and the away team opted for a scrum. A solid set piece forced Bicester to use their backs, a big Wayne Garstang hit halted the attack and a penalty was awarded for holding onto the ball.
It was the home team who opened the scoring when a scrappy lineout was knocked on by a Bicester hand. This presented Wycombe with a scrum on the ten metre line, the ball was fed out to Matt Wardle who pulled his pass in behind to Billy Bickford who went through a hole in the defence. He timed his pass to perfection to put Njabs Zulu away to score in the corner, with the kick missed 5-0. Wycombe could have scored straight from the kick-off when Joff Forber took the restart and made a break. With quick ball prop Ayrton Hooker galloped his way into the opposition half before being hauled down. Unfortunately, with an overlap on the outside a knock on in the backs halted the attack. With the rain getting heavier the game was becoming more fragmented and chances to score were few and far between. The best opportunity for Wycombe was from a Jake Banton break, with Matt Wardle spotting no one at home he put in a grubber kick over the try line and was narrowly beaten to touching the ball down. Bicester were using their forwards well to make metres, but excellent Wycombe defence meant they never really threatened the try line. Just before half time a Bicester player was yellow carded for a no arm tackle on Ayrton Hooker, but nothing came of the penalty and there was no further score in the first half.
Half Time 5-0
The second half started with Bicester on the attack with their forwards keeping the ball tight and Wycombe must have defended more than twenty pick and goes before they were penalised for a high tackle. They opted for a kick at goal which was pushed wide, but Bicester had set the tone of how they were going to play. A lost Wycombe lineout set up a three minute period of play where Bicester used their forwards close to the ruck to set up good field position, eventually the home team were penalised in front of the posts and the three points were taken, 5-3. From the kick-off Bicester again used their forwards to pick and go but this time an excellent counter ruck from the Wycombe forwards won the ball back and Bicester were penalised for being offside, unfortunately Billy Bickford missed the kick. From the twenty-two some strong carries into the opposition half set up an overlap and some quick hands from Mike Fradgely put Dan Keir away on the twenty two. With still a lot to do he broke through a tackle and stepped the cover defender and just made it over the line to score, kick missed 10-3. Bicester had the opportunity to get back into the game when an excellent cross field kick was well fielded by their fullback, he side-stepped inside Njabs and only great covering defence by Jake Banton hauled him down close to the line. With the away team looking like they were going to score Dan Keir managed to get over the ball and was rewarded with a penalty. From the lineout a big Billy Bickford kick pinned Bicester back inside their own half and once again they used their forwards to make metres up the pitch. This time Joff Forber managed to rip the ball free which fell to Craig Murray, he passed the ball out to Billy Bickford who put in a short kick behind the defence. Jake Banton was the first to react and managed to get his boot to the ball to kick it over the line and fall on the ball to score, Billy missed the kick 15-3 with ten minutes to go. In the dying seconds of the game Wycombe failed to clear their lines and knocked on, a scrum was called for. From the scrum Bicester kept the ball tight and went through over 15 phases of play, eventually they went out wide and scored under the post, with the kick made the final whistle sounded 15-10.
Match Report by Matt Lewis
This was a good win in extremely difficult conditions against a big, well organised team. Wycombe scored three good tries and continued to try and play good rugby despite the conditions.
Man of the Match – Ayrton Hooker – He was rock solid in the set piece, made metres every time he carried the ball and never missed a tackle.
Next match – Feb 29th Chesham (Away)
