Sat 19 Nov 2011
Milton Keynes 36 Wallingford 15
Wallingford travelled to Milton Keynes on an abnormally fine November’s afternoon, looking to build on a determined display at Aylesbury the week previous.
In selection, Henry Venners and Phil Dawes replaced Angus Brettell and Glenn Dearlove respectively, whilst in the forwards, James Neal was drafted in at short notice to replace the ‘unwell’ James Norris, on the flank.
The game started with a flurry of penalties awarded against the home side as the referee looked to crack down at the breakdown. With the lineout performing well early on, Monk made several bulldozing runs around the fringes as the visitors made a lively start. And after numerous half chances, they soon made the breakthrough. After several phases in the MK half, the ball went blind to Blaszko, who drew his man before feeding his fellow prop Monk, who motored in untouched from 30 meters to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed.
Wallingford continued to match their hosts, in both set piece and open play, but all too often, unnecessary penalties at the breakdown gifted possession and territory to Milton Keynes. This eventually culminated in two kickable penalties which the impressive MK fly-half duly converted to put the hosts 6-5 after half an hour. The ill-discipline continued from the visitors, and they were soon down to 14 men, when, after their centre made a break into Wallingford’s twenty-two, Miguel was penalised for killing the ball and was sent to the bin.
From the ensuing penalty, the MK Number 8 crashed it up, and Wallingford defence went awol as he barrelled over almost untouched for a soft try.
Wallingford rallied late the in half and were rewarded with a penalty 30 meters out which Smith kicked, to reduce the deficit to 5 points, as the half ended 13-8.
Still very much in the game, Wallingford looked to improve on a solid first half. But unfortunately early penalties, again at the breakdown, gave the visitors early possession. After MK extended their lead with a couple more penalties, Wallingford then had a nightmare twenty minutes, as they began to fall off tackles which meant the hosts were always on the front foot.
Milton Keynes extended their lead further with a try, as the score moved to 24-8 as the game began to slip away from Wallingford. At this point, Wallingford finally began to rediscover their first half form, as they scored next. From another solid scrum just inside the Wallingford half, Viljoen broke blind before feeding Smith, who raced through, chipped over the full back and won the foot-race to touch down under the posts for a moral boosting try which he converted.
This proved to be somewhat of a false dawn, as MK scored two further tries from well-executed backs moves, though the visitors defence was soft at best.
Wallingford rallied once again, and should have had the final score, as quick hands put in skipper Holton over in the right, but as he tried to make the conversion easier, he was held up over the line, and that pretty much ended the game.
This was a frustrating game for Wallingford, they probably edged the set-piece against a larger pack, and the backs were evenly matched, but discipline and a twenty minute meltdown in the second half ultimately cost them. The discipline at the breakdown was not good enough, and although the referee seemed to allow the visitors to seal off at virtually every breakdown, Wallingford should have reacted better to his interpretation of this area.
1.Monk. 2.Hill 3.Blaszko (Emmett) 4.Rowberry 5.Bailey 6.Neal 7.Bower 8.Jeffries 9.Viljoen 10.Smith
11.Ballon (Kelly) 12.Hunt 13.Holton 14.P.Dawes 15.Venners
