Sat 22 Mar 2025
Wallingford travelled north to Banbury on a mild spring’s day for their first ever senior Oxfordshire cup final. Their opposition were Oxford RFC, who were recently crowned champions of the BBO North league, and had defeated several level 7 oppositions on their way to the final.
In selection, after a horror show of a 2025 for injuries and absence, Wallingford were able to field a near full strength squad, with the only major absentee being Lawson Dallimore in the front row. The final also saw the long-awaited return from injury of former skipper James Norris, who along with captain Conner Murphy, were making their 200th appearances for the 1st XV.
Kicking off at the later than usual time of 17:30, the opening quarter was a largely even affair, as both teams probed their unfamiliar opponents, as the opening 15 minutes passed without any notable events or scores.
But as the game progressed, Wallingford started to infringe at the breakdown, and after a spell of sustained pressure from Oxford, they eventually barged their way over the line for the first score of the final. Converted.
Wallingford bounced back almost immediately with a well worked try in the backs. After fielding a clearance on halfway, a cut-out pass from Charles Campbell put Sam Botting in space down the right wing, who found Murray Bellis inside who in turn provided the scoring pass to Jacob Knight who stepped the cover defence to finish under the posts. Campbell converting.
The remainder of the half saw Oxford largely dominate possession, as Wallingford continued to infringe at the breakdown, culminating in a yellow card for Max Suttner, and Oxford quickly took advantage of the extra man, as they forced their way over the line for an unconverted try.
Despite Oxford being in the ascendancy, Wallingford finished the half strongly and reduced arrears with a Campbell penalty, as the half came to a close at 12-10 to Oxford.
Half-time saw the introduction of the influential, if a little broken James Porter into the pack, and young scrum-half Tom Perrott for his first game of the season, and the two had an instant impact on the game.
Oxford started the half brightly, but some excellent Wallingford defence denied them the crucial next score, and this signalled a shift in momentum in the game as a whole.
This time it was Oxford’s turn to foul fall of the ref, as Campbell’s boot took Wallingford deep into the Oxford half, and following a catch-and-drive in the Oxford twenty-two, James Norris burrowed over for a signature <1m finish. Campbell converting well from the left.
Approaching the last quarter, Wallingford began to really hit their straps as Oxford began to fall off the pace. The next try started deep in Wallingford’s half, before quick ball found Botting on the left, who linked well his brother-in-law Dan Sadler, who returned the favour to put Botting in for a fine try. Campbell converting.
Entering the last ten minutes, the next score came from a brutal Bellis line as he bumped a would-be tackler before reaching over the line for a try to the left of the posts, Campbell converting.
The penultimate score of the night from an unlikely short-range finish from Tom Cerullo who dotted down following a good sweeping attack from Wallingford.
And the final play of the game saw the impressive Bellis intercept in his own half before racing in to for a try under the posts that Campbell, who didn’t miss a kick all game, converted.
This was very much a game of two halves. Oxford showed in the first half why they are the standout time in the league below, with a well-drilled pack and a dangerous backline, and were good value for their half time lead.
The second half saw Wallingford finally play to their potential, with the pack dominating and the back line looking threatening every time they got the ball.
There were plenty of fine performances across the park with the likes of Bellis, Botting and Campbell excellent throughout, whilst in the pack Bradfield, Norris and Diment got through lots of good work, but Jack Thurston just pipped the excellent Jacob Knight to man of the match, for a fine display in defence, attack and in the set-piece.
Numbers Game
Tom Bradfield – 8.5 – industrious display as ever, top tackler
James Norris – 8.5 – excellent arrows in the line-out and solid in defence
Jack Thurston – 9.5 – played through injury to put in a dominant display throughout
Matt Purnell – 8 – strong set-piece showing, well-marshalled by Oxford in attack
Conner Murphy – 8.5 – worked his socks off, especially in defence.
Josh Morris – 8 – big shift in defence in the defence, knock to the head
Tom Diment – 8.5 – lots of Diment from the always consistent back row
Max Suttner – 8 – good all-round display with only discipline letting him down (again)
Jack Payne – 8 – good display under pressure in the first half
Jacob Knight – 9.5 – lot of dominant hits in defence and pulled the strings nicely in attack
Chris Greig-Jenkins – 7.5 - injury put paid to his day early on after a nasty concussion
Tom Cerullo – 8.5 – played well, often as a second pivot in attack
Murray Bellis – 9 – powerful display especially in attack despite hamstring going
Sam Botting – 9 -excellent work-rate in attack, lots of touches off his wing
Charles Campbell – 8.5 – perfect kicking game and good positioning to deal with Oxford’s kicking game
James Porter – 8.5 – massive impact even with a crocked knee
George Thomasson – 8 – continued the good work of Diment and Morris from the second half
Samuel MacMillan – 8 – carried well and a nuisance at the breakdown
Tom Perrott – 8.5 – speed of delivery was a big factor behind the improved second half
Dan Sadler – 8 – came on early and didn’t put a foot wrong.
