Sat 18 Dec 2004
Wallingford 26 - Milton Keynes 21 (18.12.04)
Wallingford staged a remarkable second half come back to narrowly defeat their visitors Milton Keynes 26-21 in a thrilling game at the Hithercroft. The victory was revenge for the defeat that the club suffered at Milton Keynes only a few weeks ago. Going in at the interval 21-6 down the home side looked dead and buried but some terrific work by the Wallingford forwards, particularly in the scrum paved the way for the turnaround.
The game started badly for Wallingford when after only five minutes when Milton Keynes moved the ball wide and created the space for the visitors pacey full back DUCKERS to run in from 40 metres for a try which was converted by MATTHEWS. Then on the 15 minute mark the deficit was reduced when the home side’s Don JENKINS slotted a penalty. However five minutes later with Wallingford pressing the visitors line the ball was intercepted by full back DUCKERS who raced some 80 metres to score under the posts which was again converted by MATTHEWS. Worse was to follow for the home side hen some weak midfield tackling saw Milton Keynes free DUCKERS who raced in to complete a emarkable first half hat trick. The last 10 minutes of the half saw Wallingford try to storm the Milton eynes and despite intense pressure some fine last minute tackling meant that all Wallingford had to show for their efforts was another Don JENKINS penalty when the visitors infringed at the ruck.
Then after only five minutes of the second half came perhaps the turning point when from a 5 metre scrum the Wallingford destroyed the Milton Keynes pack and drove them over the line for scrum half Gavin HULL to dive over for a try which was converted by JENKINS. Five minutes later Wallingford winger Jake CARTER took a quick line out on the Milton Keynes 10 metre line and linked with his backs and the result was a try for fellow winger Nick RISK in the opposite corner which wasn’t converted. With the Wallingford scrum totally dominant it seemed only a matter of time before the come side would take the lead and so it turned out when full back stole the ball at a maul and ran in from 40 metres for an unconverted try. With ten minutes to go JENKINS slotted another penalty for the home side and despite having the better of the last ten minutes Milton Keynes didn’t manage to score a point in the second half.
The side now has a couple of weeks off over the Christmas break which will hopefully allow some of the players time to get over those niggling injuries which they’re carrying, ready for a very important second half of the season.
