Sat 18 Apr 2009
After the club was awarded Sports Club of the year at the Oxfordshire Sports Awards, Wallingford got back to winning ways this weekend with a 33-15 victory over a determined Reading Abbey side. After three league defeats it was a welcome victory that sees Wallingford open a 2 point lead in 4th place. The team showed a few changes from last week with Ed FERNEYHOUGH starting at hooker and Tom HILL moving to flanker. In the backs Nick RISK started on the wing in place of the unavailable Richard TURNER.
Although Abbey are yet to notch a win this season they travelled to Wallingford with 5 debutants and a strong desire to get some points on the board. From the kick off they showed they were keen to fling the ball around in their backs and try and match Wallingford at their own game. It was the home side that scored first however when Jackson SAYCE kicked a simple penalty after Abbey were penalised at the breakdown. The strong wind was causing problems with the Wallingford line-out and a lack of aggression at the breakdown meant the back line weren't getting the freedom to execute any moves and put together any decent phases of play. Having said this it was Wallingford who scored the first try of the game. A good break by centre Johnny COLLETT created an overlap on the half way line before Henry POOLER chipped the ball through to the Abbey goal line. Racing for the ball RISK was pushed before he reached it and Wallingford were awarded a penalty try. SAYCE converted to put Wallingford 10-0 up. Although the score board was ticking over Wallingford were struggling to take control of the game and Abbey didn't need a second invitation to come back into the game. A well worked move saw the Abbey fly-half grubber kick the ball through a static Wallingford defence and their pacey winger touched down for a simple try. The conversion was scored and soon after they were level when a needless penalty was given away and easily converted.
The second half saw Wallingford step their game up a gear and a simple SAYCE penalty put Wallingford in the lead soon after the break. The set plays started to come together and with that came a base that the backs could work from. Ian JEFFREYS and Mike TURNER started carrying the ball well and support was always on hand to keep moves flowing. After some continuous pressure Wallingford grabbed their second try of the afternoon when Paul LEWIS, who was fierce in the loose all day, crashed over the line for a try that SAYCE converted. Soon after the winger increased Wallingford's lead with yet another well struck penalty. Starting to loose a grip of the game Abbey struggled to live with Wallingford and lost two players to the sin bin in quick succession as they continuously gave away penalties. From here Wallingford completely took control. POOLER was unlucky to be denied a try when he cut an excellent line and sped through the Abbey defence. The ref, however, deemed there to be crossing and blew for an Abbey penalty. More pressure led to Wallingford's third try when Abbeys cover defence fumbled the ball and Henry VENNERS took advantage by pouncing on it and running in from 10 meters out. SAYCE converted before extending Wallingford's lead with a wonderfully struck penalty from the half way line to put the home side 33-10 up. Before the final whistle could blow Abbey used an overlap well and scored a consolation try out wide. It wasn't converted and the game finished 33-15.
A much improved second half performance gained Wallingford the win in the end and sees them back on track in the league. The gap could and should have been bigger. Wallingford failed to get any real phases of play together in the first 40 minutes and on a couple of occasions maybe made the wrong decisions. Having said this it was another solid victory and extends the teams unbeaten home record. Next week Wallingford travel to Salisbury looking to get another victory under their belt before a couple of tough games against Hartpury College and Reading.
Wallingford: Venners; Sayce, Holton, Collett, Risk (Hull); Viljeon, Pooler; Blaszko, Ferneyhough, Keable; Turner, Lewis; Jenkins, Hill (Bailey), Jeffreys.
