Sat 31 Oct 2026
Wallingford travelled to 2nd placed Tadley for a top of the table clash between the last two undefeated teams in the league.
In selection, Wallingford were missing a number of regulars, including the captain Lawson Dallimore and the free-scoring Matt Lewis, but were able to welcome back the experienced Nathan Chapman and Ed Searle in the forwards, whilst 19 year old Casper Charlesworth stepped into the centres for his first start in his preferred position.
The opening quarter was dominated by the visitors, as their forwards carried strongly into the Tadley half, and the home side’s set-piece struggled.
And the early dominance eventually culminated in a short-range try for Chapman, converted by Charles Campbell.
Despite their limited possession and territory, Tadley soon showed their threat, as some poor drift defence by Wallingford allowed the hosts to break down the right on half way and they eventually finished well in the corner, with the conversion excellently converted from the touchline.
That was only a brief respite for the hosts though, as Wallingford retook the lead on the half hour mark. After Tadley failed to clear their lines from a defensive line-out, the dominant scrum that ensued enabled the backs to put the ball through the hands for Isa Mohammed to score in the left corner. Conversion missed.
The visitors continued to enjoy plenty of possession and territory, and they soon picked up their third try before half time.
After a James Norris turnover on the Tadley twenty-two, good phase play eventually led to an overlap on the right where Campbell fed replacement Jasper Laidlaw for his maiden 1st XV try in the right corner. Conversion missed.
Half Time : Tadley 7 – 19 Wallingford
With a well-oiled VP crowd on the sideline, Tadley came out firing in the second half.
After a deep kick resulted in a Tadley penalty on the Wallingford 5m line, a set play was poorly defended by Wallingford as the Tadley centre crashed over near the posts. Try converted.
With the lead narrowed, Wallingford began to make needless mistakes, with the penalty count giving Tadley a much-needed foothold in the game.
As Tadley began to enjoy much more possession, Wallingford defended well, as large periods of the second half was played around halfway, often resulting in a kicking battle.
Wallingford then score their crucial fourth try. From a scrum inside the Tadley half, a break by Chapman fed the supporting Dan Larkwood who sprinted down the right touchline to score a brilliantly taken try in the corner. Conversion missed.
Tadley continued to fight back as the half entered the last quarter, and they reduced the deficit again with a somewhat fortuitous score.
From a seemingly aimless kick into the Wallingford half, the wicked bounce fell kindly to the Tadley chase, and some good hands saw their winger score under the posts for a converted try.
Pressure mounted on the visitors as Laidlaw was sent to the bin for multiple high tackles, and Tadley soon took advantage as a missed tackle from 10m out saw Tadley score to take the lead for the first time in the match with the conversion.
With less than 10 minutes to play, Wallingford didn’t panic, and soon restored their lead.
After multiple phases in the Tadley twenty-two, the Wallingford pack, which had dominated their opponents all game, worked their way to the Tadley line, enabling Chapman to score his second of the match.
With minutes left, a nasty injury to Wallingford hooker James Norris delayed proceedings, with the game moving to an adjacent pitch.
After a lengthy delay, the game eventually ended, with Wallingford winning 31-28.
This was very much a game of two halves.
The first saw Wallingford dominate in nearly all facets of the game, in particularly the set-piece and tight game, with the pack very much to the fore.
The second half saw the game become more disjointed and open, as Tadley took advantage at the breakdown in structure and Wallingford indiscipline.
But this was an excellent win for Wallingford. Tadley are always strong at home, and have already won games against Grove and Didcot with last minute scores this season, so holding out for the win was no mean achievement by the visitors.
