Sat 26 Sep 2026
Wallingford welcomed Witney 2nd XV to the Hithercroft on a perfect day for rugby, as they started their campaign in the BBO leagues following last season’s narrow relegation.
In selection, the pack had a familiar look to it, with James Bowditch starting at number eight after missing most of last season with injury.
In the backs, there was a new look backline, as veterans Sam Botting and Charles Campbell were joined by U23s Matt Lewis, Jack Earl, Nathan Gibbin and Luke Ridley.
The opening exchanges were largely dominated by the visitors, as a combination of Wallingford ill-discipline and intelligent kicking from the Witney half-backs keeping Wallingford pinned deep in their own half.
After soaking up the early pressure with some dogged defence, the hosts’ backs showed their threat as they moved the ball left to Lewis on the twenty two, and the athletic centre danced his way up the touchline for what seemed to be a certain try, only to be called back for a little toe in touch.
That was largely the pattern of the first half, as Witney enjoyed plenty of possession but struggled to penetrate the hosts’ defence, whilst Wallingford looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
The first try came after fifteen minutes as Wallingford struck first.
From a scrum in midfield, Witney looked to attack on the right, only for the alert Nathan Gibbin to pick off a wide pass, before feeding the supporting Lewis who finished brilliantly from 30m. Campbell converting.
Lewis then did it again nearly straight from the restart.
After a strong carry in midfield by Ollie Paice, the ball was moved right to Lewis, who with plenty to do, saw off several would-be tacklers before turning on the afterburners to run in a fine individual try from halfway. Campbell converting.
Witney continued to pressure Wallingford, but were again hit by an excellent long-distance score.
After turning over a line-out, a James Norris kick and collect set up Gibbin on halfway, and he fielded his own grubber through before rounding the last man to score an excellent try. Campbell converting.
21-0 up somewhat against the run of play, Wallingford were then guilty of taking their foot off the pedal.
After dropping the restart, Witney then worked their way up to the try line before burrowing over on the right for a deserved score, which was brilliantly converted.
Wallingford continued to fall foul of the referee, either offside or playing the ball on the floor, as Witney continued to enjoy plenty of possession, and they eventually narrowed the gap to 7 points as they scored a well taken converted try in the left cover.
Half-Time : Wallingford 21- 14 Witney II
The visitors started strongly against and soon brought things level.
After a box kick bounced unkindly for the Wallingford winger, the ball fell into Witney hands and they ran in from halfway for a converted score.
That sparked Wallingford back into life, and their backs did the job again as they secured the bonus point try.
From a scrum just inside their own half, the ball was worked left to Gibbin, who beat two defenders before offloading to the supporting Sam Botting who ran it in from 40m, Campbell converting well from the sideline.
The back and forth nature of the game continued, as Witney struck back again.
After yet another Wallingford infringement, Witney kicked to the corner and scored from the ensuing line-out.
Then it was Wallingford’s turn to score, as their forwards joined the scoring party.
After a good carry on the right by Tom Diment, the ball found James Norris who offloaded brilliantly off the deck to Paice who scored. Conversion missed.
Wallingford then nearly extended their lead, after a fine series of play featuring Campbell, Earl, replacement Isa Mohammed and Botting saw the latter run it in on the left, only to be called back by a very contentious touch judge call.
As the game entered the last quarter, the game really began to open up, with lots of exciting running rugby from both sides.
But it was Wallingford who began to control the closing stages, with the scrum starting to dominate, and the bench making a big impact.
The all important next try with ten minutes to go.
After a barnstorming carry from Isa, the ball was moved left to the increasingly influential Campbell (we’ll overlook his inexplicable drop-goal penalty miss), and the rangy fly-half arced his way into the corner to score.
Witney did not give up though, and scored a somewhat fortuitous try on the right following some pinball from a wide kick.
The decisive blow then came as the hosts closed the game out with arguably the best try of a game full of excellent scores.
After a carry and offload by Dallimore found his marauding front row partner Matt Purnell, the big prop showed physics-defying pace to charge into the Witney half.
After seeing off two tacklers, he offloaded to keep the ball alive, then Freddie Carter carried deep into the Witney twenty-two, before simple hands moved the ball right for Botting to score again in the corner for an brilliant team try.
That was the last meaningful act of the game as it ended 45-33 to Wallingford.
This was a highly entertaining game of rugby played in excellent spirits by both sides and well-officiated.
Wallingford didn’t really know what to expect from their first opponents at level 8, and Witney really gave them a good run for their money. Good structured rugby, an excellent kicking game and a tight line-out, they played an excellent game and deserved their losing bonus point.
Wallingford will be largely pleased with their display given the number of regulars away.
Their scrum was dominant, the backs looked dangerous every time their got the ball, and their defence was mostly solid.
There were plenty of fine performances, with Norris, Paice and Cooper carrying plenty of yards in the pack, whilst in the backs Earl and Campbell combined well to release the dangerous Lewis, Gibbin and Botting.
