Sat 25 Feb 2023
Walllingford welcomed fifth placed Milton Keynes to the Hithercroft on chilly Saturday afternoon, as they looked to continue their good run of form and end their home season with just the one defeat. In selection, with Nathan Chapman, Murray Bellis and Ollie Newell unavailable, in came Felix Harris, Ralph Smith and Toby Bucknell into the starting line-up, and there was a welcome return to the 1st XV for Gav ‘grievous bodily’ Harmer.
Wallingford started the brighter of the two teams, as early pressure earned a string of penalties which gave them a good attacking platform. Milton Keynes resisted Wallingford’s early pressure on their line, as their tight defence was particularly resilient.
But it was clear early on that Wallingford held the edge in the set-piece, consistently shunting their opponents back at scrum time and rarely troubled at the line-out. After working their way into the visitors twenty-two, a strong carry from Ed Searle was stopped just short of the line, allowing James Norris to execute a signature one inch finish to score his sixth try of the season, which Ollie Corbett did well to convert from the left.
Although going forward Wallingford were playing well, their defence was not at its best, as a lack of intensity and awareness allowed Milton Keynes, through their forwards and hard-running makeshift centres, to work their way into the Wallingford half. Momentum began to shift towards the visitors as Wallingford were repeatedly pinged for back foot offsides.
And the pressure eventually told, as Milton Keynes finally crossed the whitewash for a converted score as Wallingford started to creak in defence. Shortly after that the visitors had the opportunity to take the lead but a straight-forward penalty 20 meters out drifted to the right of the posts.
Things were then made worse for Wallingford when veteran Smith was sent to the bin for another back foot penalty.
Despite the numerical advantage, an improving defensive display from Wallingford saw Milton Keynes struggle to break down the hosts, and indeed it was the hosts who created the best chance of the remaining half. From an advancing scrum 5m out, Max Suttner picked and knocked on in contact when maybe leaving the ball with the scrum was the better option.
The half ended seven apiece.
The opening exchanges of the second half were relatively even, as Milton Keynes continued to use their pack to hit hard lines in midfield, whilst Wallingford continued to dominate in the set piece, but frustratingly poor hands all too often snuffed out any chances.
But with Wallingford’s discipline gradually improving and Milton Keynes beginning to tire, the hosts slowly began to grow back into the game. And after Corbett kicked to the corner following a Milton Keynes infringement, a well-executed catch and drive saw Conner Murphy touched down for his second try of the season, conversion missed.
Milton Keynes were still very much in the game, and enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure in the Wallingford half, but a heroic defensive effort saw Wallingford keep their guests at bay, which was to prove a decisive period in the game.
The visitors then lost their flanker for a very high and ugly tackle on Corbett, which he was fortunate not to see red for.
A man up going into the last 15 minutes of the half, two moments of magic from Jacob Knight saw the game burst into life. First up, Knight cut a delightful line off Corbett to slice through on halfway, before he fed the supporting Sam Botting who timed his pass perfectly to put in JJ Brown who raced in to score via a 5.6 of a swan dive. Corbett converting.
And the next was a fine solo effort from Knight. With nothing on, he chipped and gathered on halfway before grubbering past the full the full back and then gathering for one of the finest individual scores seen at the Hithercroft and one much enjoyed by the vocal VP crowd.
With the bonus point secured, there was still time for one more try. Having already made several barnstorming runs after coming off the bench, Gav Harmer blasted over the line from short range to finish the scoring, as Wallingford ended up 31-7 winners.
This was a hard-fought contest between fourth and fifth place in the league, and one that Milton Keynes will feel hard done by by the score line. Wallingford were far from their best, with decision making and handling limiting their attacking threat, and Milton Keynes’ hard running game really tested them at times. But it was arguably Wallingford’s superior fitness that saw them over the line, as they were able to go through the gears in the last quarter to stun their visitors and score three quick fire and well taken tries.
There were some strong performances from the home side, with Sam Botting showing his class in the centres and Lawson Dallimore influential in both the tight and the loose, but Man of the Match went to Jacob Knight who, despite struggling with a mystery sickness (apparently not a hangover), put in a massive shift in defence and whose attacking brilliance ultimately decided the contest.
Match photos can be found in the gallery section:
https://wallingfordrfc.rfu.club/gallery/1st-xv-vs-milton-keynes-25th-feb-2023
