Sat 27 Nov 2004
Wallingford 10 Midsomer Norton 27 - Powergen Junior Vase Round 4
The club’s hopes of emulating last season’s cup run were ended after they were soundly beaten by the Somerset Premier League side. Facing a much heavier and bigger pack of forwards the home side struggled from the off in the set pieces. Right from the kick off the visitors came close to opening the scoring when from a 5 metre line out the Midsomer number 8 FULLER almost went over. Then after 10 minutes the Wallingford backs were caught offside and PENNY the visitors full back slotted the penalty. The pressure on the Wallingford line continued and it was credit to the home side’s defence that they managed to keep the visitors at bay.
However on the 25 minute mark Wallingford made their first concerted attack into the opposition’s
territory, and after a number of rolling mauls the home pack came close to being driven over the visitors line on a couple of occasions. However Wallingford then suffered their first injury setback of the afternoon when lock Russell FOWLER broke his jaw and had to leave the field. After yet another driving maul the ball was spun wide and after full back Henry VENNERS broke the first line of defence. When the ball was then fed along the three quarters winger Nick RISK who went over wide out. The try was excellently converted by skipper Olli HENDERSON.
Then almost from the re-start the visitors Number 8 FULLER broke several tackles to crash over for a try which was converted by PENNY. On the 35 minute mark came perhaps the key moment of the game when Wallingford skipper Olli HENDERSON suffered a knee injury and limped off. This meant that Henry VENNERS who was Wallingford’s most potent attacking force was moved to scrum half. Then on the stroke of half time Midsomer Norton had a lineout 5 metres from the Wallingford line and from a rolling maul second row PARFITT went over for a try which was again converted by PENNY.
The second half started very much as the first had finished with the visitors turning the screw in the set pieces and using their much bigger pack to drive the ball up through the middle. The lead was further increased when after a 5 metre scrum number 8 FULLER got his second try of the afternoon which wasn’t converted. On the 60 minute mark the game was put beyond the home side when after a well worked another line out Midsomer managed to break down the blind side and flanker HILLIER scored an unconverted try. However Wallingford didn’t give in and had the better of the last 20 minutes, but despite spending long periods of time in the visitors 22 and securing a stream of possession they weren’t able to breach the visitors line due to a combination of the final pass going astray and excellent tackling.
Next week the side entertain promotion rivals Swindon and with injury problems mounting it promises to be a very tough match.
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