Sat 14 Dec 2019, 14:00
Wallingford welcomed county rivals Bicester to the Hithercroft on an initially blustery day, as they looked to bounce back from narrow defeats against the top two teams in the league.
In selection, Wallingford were able to welcome back Dan Sadler in the backs, whilst James Norris started on the flank.
This is a tricky match report to write this week, as the recurring theme of the match was the referee's whistle. So far this season the standard of refereeing, often exchange referees from other societies, has been excellent, but the standard relapsed this week as both sides, and supporters were left in befuddlement at the frequency and bizarreness of the decisions, that ultimately ruined the game as a spectacle.
In a physical first half, neither team dominated, albeit Wallingford's set-piece creaked at times against a weighty Bicester pack. The first points of the day went to the hosts, after a rare spell of pressure in the visitor's twenty two. After strong forward carries to the ball to the line, Graham Sage just about got the ball out of the ruck before squirting a pass out that clearly went forward to Smith in the corner who grounded the ball. Much to everyone's surprise, the try was given and Smith had his try for the season! Campbell converted brilliantly from the touchline.
Wallingford then lost hooker Jack Payne to the sin-bin for raising his foot early in the scrum, which 'surprised' everyone as it was most people's understanding that this is a free kick offense, not a penalty.
Bicester came back strongly, and after Wallingford had resisted their forwards, the ball was moved right and a well executed play in the backs saw their full back ghost through a gap before finishing well for a converted try.
There was still time for one more bizarre act in the half. With Wallingford awarded a penalty thirty meters out, Campbell dragged his attempt left of the posts, but much to Bicester's annoyance, the referee called Mulligan after a Bicester forward raised his arms as he struck it, and Campbell made no mistake at the second attempt.
The second half was one of the more tedious halves of rugby seen at the 'Croft in recent seasons, as neither team were able to create any momentum due to the constant use of the whistle, often for pedantic, unnnecessary decisions, sometimes for just plain erroneous calls, as the touchline grew more irritated with every interruption.
Wallingford were able to extend their lead on the hour mark after a good spell of pressure earned them a penalty that Campbell converted, as it looked like the game was ebbing away from the visitors.
But with under ten minutes to go, a huge decision swung momentum back in Bicester's direction. An attempted chip over the centres on the twenty-two was well read by replacement Alex Brown, as he fielded the ball and looked to open play up. Despite having no Bicester play near and their being to collision between home or away player, the referee awarded a penalty for crossing, and Bicester kicked deep in to Wallingford territory.
This gave them the platform to launch wave after wave of attack, as the home side tired, understandably given how little ball they saw in the game.
And as the clock ticked down, with Jeffreys sent to the bin for slowing the ball down, Bicester finally crashed over ten meters to the left of the posts. With the clock up, the impressive Bicester 10 had a kick to win the match, and he duly converted, as Bicester won 14-13.
This was a frustrating game all round, for both sides. Neither side were allowed to play, resulting in a stop start game that saw more scrums than anything else.
Given how little ball Wallingford had, their defence was excellent, but in attack their execution was lacking again, with two many times the pass not given or not going to hand.
A frustrating, injury-riddled 2019 is over, Wallingford will look to bounce back in 2020 as they hopefully welcome back some key players from injury, and get back to winning ways.
