Sat 29 Jan 2022
High Wycombe 1st XV 24 – 38 Bicester 1st XV
After last week’s defeat to Reading, Wycombe started a run of three consecutive home games against Bicester. With Bicester sitting 11th in the league all things pointed to an easier game, but a closer inspection of their results showed that they had lost most games by under 10 points and had the 4th best defence in the league. In selection, Wycombe were again forced into changes and were struggling for lineout jumpers due to injury and unavailability. In the backs, with Ollie Brown out with a broken hand, Joe Openshaw showed his versatility by playing at fullback.
From the kick- off Bicester started well and carried strongly, a high hanging kick from the Bicester 10 was regathered and they were then awarded a penalty for not rolling away. This was kicked to touch, but the resulting lineout was not straight, and a scrum was awarded. Wycombe were marched back at the scrum and penalised, Bicester opted to take the points, but the kick was pushed wide. The opening skirmishes should have been a warning to the men in green that this was not going to be an easy afternoon. From the twenty-two another pinpoint kick pushed Wycombe deep into their twenty-two. The lineout, which struggled all afternoon was stolen but some strong work over the ball gave the home team a penalty. This gave Wycombe their first real opportunity to pressurise the away team and another penalty for being offside gave Mark Barry’s men a lineout on the twenty-two. The ball was scrappy but tidied up by Craig Murray and then fed out to the backs where Matt Wardle spotted a gap and ghosted through it, he drew the last man and offloaded to Tom Boardman who went over to score 7-0. Wycombe were not able to hold onto the lead for long, initially they did well after knocking on a kick they conceded field position but then won a penalty at the ruck. This was taken quickly but the clearing kick was charged down and although the home team regathered possession they were penalised for holding on. This set up a lineout closed to the line and the ball was fed out to the Bicester 10 who put in a delicate chip behind the defence, the Bicester player won the race for the ball and scored under the post 7-7. Bicester won the restart but were then penalised for a neck roll on Craig Murray, unfortunately the penalty was kicked dead. The twenty-two was well fielded and Wycombe went through the phases and several half breaks took play up to the try line. With the forwards trying to rumble the ball over the line the Bicester prop was yellow carded for a high tackle. With the penalty tapped the pressure eventually told when a break in behind from Matt Wardle was fed out to James Shuck who scored in the corner 12-7. Bicester were kicking well, and another long kick was well taken by Joe Openshaw who showed his kicking prowess by producing a banana kick from inside his own half which just bounced into touch in the Bicester twenty-two giving the home team the lineout. The lineout didn’t go to plan but fortunately Bicester knocked on. From the scrum the home team went down the blindside and were stopped inches from the line. The forwards took over but couldn’t break through, with the referee playing advantage the Bicester 7 was yellow carded. With only 13 opposition players on the pitch Mike Fradgley opted for the scrum. A strong effort from the forwards allowed Craig Murray to pick up at the base but he was stopped short, but Ayrton Hooker wasn’t to be denied as he barged his way over the line, James Shuck made the extras 19-7. With only minutes remaining Wycombe were hoping to see out the remainder of the half but it wasn’t to be. Having taken the restart, the ball was passed out to the backs who spotted an overlap. In trying to get the ball out to the wing the ball didn’t go to hand, a Bicester player scooped up the ball and kicked in behind. With Wycombe looking to have the kick covered the ball took a wicked bounce straight into the hands of the chasing Bicester player who scored under the posts 19-14.
Half Time 19-14
The second half started and immediately Bicester cut the arrears when a high tackle in front of the post presented the Bicester 13 with an easy 3 points 19-17. Wycombe once again stretched their lead when a penalty for going off their feet at the ruck was kicked to touch. With the ball won a nice pass back inside to Sean Tolhurst took him deep into the twenty-two, the ball was offloaded to Tom Boardman who stretched over to score 24-17. This is as good as it got for the home team. A knock on at the restart invited pressure from the away team but strong defending allowed James Shuck to come away with the ball. This was kicked away but did not make touch and a poor kick chase allowed Bicester to put in a precise kick which was regathered close to the line. Eventually the pressure told, and a try was scored under the posts, 24-24. With it all to play for it was the away team who were looking the most threatening. Wycombe were given a let off when a break down the blindside was knocked on just short of the line. With the clearing kick not making touch and several missed tackles play was soon back on the Wycombe line. To make matters worse Craig Murray was yellow carded and from the penalty Bicester went out wide to score in the corner 24-31. A great hanging restart was plucked out of the air by James Shuck and put Wycombe on the attack. With the ball fed out to the wing, the attempted kick in behind fell straight into the hands of the Bicester winger. He put in a booming kick which took play back into the Wycombe twenty-two. Although the home team gathered the ball, they lost possession and the ball was fed out wide where Bicester went over to score 24-38.
Full Time 24-38
Congratulations to Bicester who played well particularly in the second half and deserved their victory. This victory took them out of the bottom two and they will hope this will kick start their season. As for Wycombe head coach Mark Barry was understandably not happy with the performance which seemed unusually flat right from the warm-up.
Next week Gosford All Blacks at home
