Sat 3 Dec 2011
Wallingford 20 - 22 Windsor
Wallingford came agonisingly close to beating promotion hopefuls Windsor at the weekend, denied only with the final kick of the game. With three minutes remaining, Wallingford led 20-19 and were camped in Windsor’s 22 but the visitors forced their way up the pitch and ill discipline gifted them two kickable penalties, with the second, the last kick of the match, sailing over.
In selection, Wallingford welcomed back James Norris on the flank, Glenn Dearlove on the wing and Angus Brettel to full back, while Henry Venners dropped to the bench. The game couldn’t have started much better for Windsor. From the kick off their reliable 15, Driscoll, cleverly switched the direction he was kicking and although Dearlove took the ball well, he was isolated and conceded a penalty. A nudge to the corner was soon followed by a wonky lineout but clinical catch and drive move, providing the first score of the game, barely two minutes in. Driscoll added the extras.
It was the slap in the face Wallingford needed. Not long after they found themselves in Windsor territory and an infringement at a ruck provided Ralph Smith the opportunity to reduce the deficit with a simple penalty. Competition at the breakdown was fierce, with both teams turning the ball over or forcing penalties if the attacking side failed to commit numbers. Set piece was pretty even too. After Windsor’s impressive catch and drive early on, Wallingford showed what they had with a neat line out move themselves. The result was flanker Rich Bower crashing over from 10 yards.
Smith missed the conversion to leave the score 8-7. It was clear Windsor’s game plan heavily relied on their industrious centres breaking the game line and offloading- or at least trying to. Shackled well by Captain Holton and Fraser Hunt, you could see the visiting back line becoming frustrated with the lack of success in that area. However, they had pace across the whole back line and their nippy winger showed how much when he made the most of an overlap to take his team back into the lead. Not deterred by this, or a spot of gauging on Monk, Wallingford worked the ball back into the Windsor half and after a neat close range pick and drive by both Bowers and Derek Viljoen, the ball was released to Ian Jeffreys who powered over from 10 meters. Smith converted to leave the half time score at 15-12.
Wallingford started the second half as Windsor did the first, piling pressure on their opposite numbers and working well as a unit. A try looked inevitable as Windsor were in the ascendency and it nearly came through Norris who knocked on just before the line. However, another bulldozing run from Jeffreys after a clinical lineout move found Kris Blaszko on the blind side with only a winger to run over. 20-12. In line with the flow of the game it was then Windsor’s turn to pile on the pressure.
Wallingford defended resolutely to 10 minutes and looked to have weathered the storm. However, after Smith put through a grubber in his own half, Wallingford failed to react to the counter attack and a try was scored out wide. Driscoll neatly converted to leave the score at 20-19. With the clock ticking, Wallingford should have ridden the game out in the Windsor half. With only three minutes on the clock and the ball firmly up Wallingford’s jumper, but it all seemed to crumble. The ball was shipped to the backs and a lack of communication saw no forward support and penalty conceded.
Then, with Windsor now in the Wallingford half, Viljoen was pinged for not rolling away. Driscoll’s penalty had the legs but not the accuracy. 1 minute to go and Smith sent a 22 drop out to the half way. Sound defence saw out the minute and it was the last play of the game when Norris saw an opportunity to counter ruck but was deemed offside by the ref. Then, in the following exchanges, Wallingford were marched back 10 meters as the ball was not given to Windsor immediately. Harsh, petty and almost definitely decisive. Driscoll didn’t make any mistakes with his final attempt. 20-22.
It was gutting to lose a match which was on a plate to win. Savvier play in those last three minutes, from the team as a whole, would have resulted in 4 points. A lot can be taken from the performance itself. This was a good, committed, display in a tough week for the club. Windsor would be top of the league but for a clerical error, and Wallingford more than matched them in every area of the park.
Onwards and upwards.
Wallingford: Brettell; Dearlove, Hunt, Holton, Miguel (Venners); Viljoen, Smith; Blaszko, Hill, Marris;
Rowberry, Bailey; Bowers, Norris, Jeffreys
