Sat 29 Nov 2008
Wallingford upset the odds this weekend with a superb 18-15 victory over league leaders Reading. Going into the game on the back of a heavy defeat to Hartpury Colleague few would have predicted that Wallingford would come away with a victory against a Reading side who have been racking up 50 points on a weekly basis and, only a couple of seasons ago, were playing in the National Leagues. The team made a couple of changes from the week before with Pete HOLTON remaining on the flank and Angus BRETTELL started at No.12. Olli HENDERSON stepped in at fly-half for the injured Henry POOLER and Mike TURNER returned at lock after missing last week through illness.
The game started at a frantic pace with Reading trying to pin Wallingford back in their own 22 but the home side held firm and with Tom HILL and Dorian JENKINS linking well in the line out they were able to weather the early storm. The game then settled and Wallingford started to come into it more with Ian JEFFREYS making a couple of good breaks from the back of the scrum and Richard TURNER threatening on the wing. At the breakdown the formidable second row of Mike TURNER and Paul LEWIS were causing all sorts of problems for Reading who failed to deal with their aggression and power all afternoon. The first score of the game came after 10 minutes when some clean ball gave Jackson SAYCE time to slot over a neat drop goal. However, like the talented Hartpury side showed last week missed tackles in defence cost tries and it was poor tackling that let Reading back into the game. From a well worked line out the inside centre made a good break before feeding a colleague in the back line who skipped out of two tackles to score under the posts. The try was converted to make the score 3-7. From the restart HOLTON was deliberately blocked and SAYCE duly kicked the penalty from 30 yards to reduce the deficit. Wallingford were then reduced to 14 men as Ian JEFFREYS was shown a yellow card for handling the ball in a ruck in his own 22 but defence held firm anyway. With half time approaching Wallingford were unlucky to concede anther try when, after a deflection in the scrum, the ball popped out to the Reading no.8 who showed good pace to run through the flustered Wallingford defence and score a try that wasn't converted.
The second half started as the first did with both teams throwing everything at the other and neither refusing to back down. With the help of scrum half Derek VILJEON the Wallingford forwards were playing very sensible ruby; keeping the ball tight when in their own half and working the fringes well in defence. Support was always on hand for when the backs made a break and the teams unity was causing Reading to lose their discipline. After 10 minutes of the first half a tap penalty was taken by Henry VENNERS and quick ball was produced for Richard TURNER to make a nice break before the Reading captain smothered the ball at the tackle area and prevented a further play. The centre was shown a yellow card before SAYCE, who had moved to fly half in place of the injured HENERSON, slotted a fine penalty to move Wallingford within 3 points. Cheered on by a strong home crowd Wallingford stepped up a gear and more phase play led to another Wallingford penalty and another 3 points from the book of SAYCE. Reading were then reduced to 13 men as the ref showed his third yellow card of the game. With the game at 12-12 and balanced on a knife edge either team looked like they could go on to win. Returning to full strength in numbers Reading camped themselves in the Wallingford 22 looking to regain the lead but the home sides defence looked solid and Reading couldn't find a way through. After a long period of pressure, a few fisty-cuffs and one incredible tackle from LEWIS, Reading cut their losses and their fly half put over a shaky drop goal to put them back in front. However, just minutes later the game was again levelled through another fine SAYCE penalty. With only a few minutes on the clock Wallingford pushed for the victory and after a chip through the Reading defence a Wallingford player was tugged without the ball and the home side were awarded a penalty. Just outside the 22, SAYCE kept his head and fired over his fifth penalty of the game, capping a fine individual performance and putting Wallingford into the lead. The last minute was played out with the ball kept tight by the Wallingford pack before the ref blew his whistle to cap a fantastic victory for Wallingford.
It was, without doubt, one of Wallingford's finest victories in their history. The team played fantastically and showed that in all areas of the game they are a match for anybody at this level and beyond. Captain Kris BLASZKO led by example all day and every player from 1-18 did the club proud. The win also extended the clubs unbeaten run in the league to over three years. Next week the team head to Bletchley and will look to continue their good form and notch another win before Christmas.
Wallingford: Venners; R.Turner, Brettel, Collett, Sayce; Henderson (Windsor), Viljeon; Blaszko, Hill, Keable; M.Tuner, Lewis; Holton, Jenkins, Jeffreys.
