Sat 23 Apr 2005
Wallingford 46 Farnham Royal 5 (Powergen Junior Vase Round 2 )
The re-arranged second round match between Wallingford and visitors Farnham Royal was finally settled on Saturday with the home side progressing to the third round after a very comfortable 46 - 5 victory. Almost from the kick off Wlllingford took the game to their opponents and it was no surprise when they went ahead on the five minute mark. Ball from the ruck was quickly re-cycled and fed along the back line for right wing Jake CARTER to go over in the corner. The try was superbly converted from the touchline by Olli HENDERSON. Then five minutes later a deep kick into the
Farnham 22 saw the visitors full back and winger make a hash of clearing their lines and Wallingford full back Henry VENNERS stole the ball to score. The try was again converted by HENDERSON.
Then almost from the re-start winger Gavin HULL scored an unconverted try and on the quarter of an hour mark the game was virtually over as a contest when a great break by outside half Don JENKINS was finished off by centre Johnny COLLETT, unfortunately HENDERSON again failed with the conversion. Then Wallingford scored the pick of their tries when great interplay between backs and forwards resulted in full back VENNERS grabbing his second try of the afternoon when HENDERSON converted. On the stroke half time the visitors in virtually their only occasion in the home side’s 22 scored a try after a 5 metre line out.
In the second half Wallingford took their foot off the pedal but still managed three more unconverted tries scored by centre Johnny COLLETT , Number 8 Peter THORNS and replacement centre Mike CHAPMAN. With the home side totally dominant in the set pieces, particularly the scrummage, the visitors became more and more frustrated and were somewhat fortunate only to have had one player sin binned later on for punching.
