Sat 26 Oct 2019
On a pretty miserable October's day, Wallingford welcomes locall rivals Reading Abbye to the Hithercroft.
In selection, due to injury and unavailability, Wallingford had to make 5 changes to the provious match at Reading, with Joe Mason, Lawson Dallimore, James Willcox-Jones and Pete McKinley coming into the side.
In cold, wet and windy conditions, the kicking game was always going to play a large role in this game, as handling became increasingly difficult. Wallingford had the better of the first half, as their forwards worked hard in the tight, and Charles Campbell kicked well to pin back the visitors. The hosts created several chances, but the only one they converted was an excellent long range effort given the conditions.
With the ball put through the hands in the backs, Alex Brown made ground on the right, before off-loading to Sam Botting in the tackle on half-way. Still with plenty to do, Botting showed his class as he swerved around the cover defence before sprinting in from fifty meters. Campbell converted.
Abbey then had a period of pressure of their own, as they were camped on the Wallingford line for nearly ten minutes, but fierce tight defence from the likes of Ed Searle, Jack Greenway and James Willcox-Jones repelled their efforts, as the half ended 7-0 to Wallingford.
The second half saw the hosts start strongly, as they worked their way into the Abbey half, and with a penalty advantage from a high tackle, Campbell put in a well driected kick into the corner. With the Abbey full back making a hash of the loose ball, Alex Brown was on hand to calmly dribble the ball over the line and score his first try for the 1st XV in only his second game.
Wallingford had the chance to extend their lead shortly afterwards, but Campbell missed a straight-forward kick from in front of the posts.
The remainder of the half saw the visitors on the front foot, in part due to the sin-binning of Brown, who needlessly tip-tackled an Abbey player after that player had just knocked on and given Wallingford 40 yards of territory. That moment swung momentum heavily in Abbey's direction, as they dominated the remainder of proceedings.
After camping on the Wallingford line, they eventually spun the ball left for a converted try, to take themselves within five points of Wallingford.
But with Brown back on the field for the last ten minutes, Wallingford just about saw out the rest of the game.
This was never going to be a classic given the conditions, so Wallingford can be happy with the result, especially given the number of young players in the team - Charles Campbell, Joe Mason, Lawson Dallimore, Alex Brown and James Royle are all under 23 and look at home in level 7 rugby.
Man of the Match went to young Alex Brown, who, ignoring his yellow card, had an excellent game. Strong running, good decision-making, a try and an assist - all part of a fine all round display in tricky conditions.
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