Sat 6 Nov 2021
Wallingford welcomed High Wycombe to the Hithercroft on a breezy afternoon, as they looked to improve on the disappointing performance at Gosford the week before.
In selection, despite a number of regulars still unavailable, Wallingford were able to field a strong XV, with Nathan Chapman, Kris Blaszko, Joe Nisbet and Andy Hoggins returned to the fold.
The home side started brightly against a Wycombe side missing a few regulars of their own, as the forward pack edged their opponents in the set-piece, whilst the backs punched some early holes.
The first score of the afternoon went to the hosts, when, after a sustained spell of pressure, captain James Norris continued his rich vein of scoring form when he burrowed over.
With the Wallingford defence holding firm against the Wycombe tight runners, and the backs just about containing their lively counterparts, Wallingford began to edge possession and territory, and they soon scored their second. With Wycombe looking to clear their lines on their twenty-two, big Ed Searle charged down the kick and the ball fell kindly to Ralph Smith who raced in from 20 meters for a converted try.
The visitors came back into game, and after some half-breaks in midfield, they worked their way towards the Wallingford line. With the Wallingford defence stretched, they moved the ball left, where Smith tried to intercept the big wide pass, only to knock the ball on. The referee deemed that a certain try was to be scored despite the cover defence, and ran under the posts to award a penalty try, with Smith sent to the bin.
The next ten minutes passed with little event, as Wallingford managed the game well with a man down, but the re-introduction of Smith saw him intercepted by his opposite number on halfway and he just about had enough in the tank to run in for the score.
Despite dominating Wallingford found themselves two points down, but they continued their strong first half performance and got a deserved their score, when Nathan Chapman showed great strength to muscle his way over from short range.
With the half nearing an end, Wallingford pushed for a bonus point try, and it looked like they might get it as they were camped on the Wycombe try line battering the visitors’ defence, but criminally, they tried a big wide pass and the pass was picked off by a Wycombe centre who just about managed to run the length of the pitch for a converted try to level the scores.
Wallingford went into half time in disbelief that the scores were level given how few chances the visitors had created, and in the knowledge that the wind was going to play a factor in the second half.
Playing against the wind, and giving away some early penalties, Wallingford’s ascendancy came to an end, as Wycombe, using the cultured right boot of their 15 turn 10, utilised the wind and the 50-22 law to give Wycombe plenty of attacking ball.
Wallingford’s defence, especially in the set-piece was excellent during this period, but the next score was somewhat of a defensive shocker from the hosts. With the ball moved blind to the Wycombe winger on halfway, he somehow he ran through four weak tackles as he raced down the right touchline to score a fine individual score, which he converted excellently himself.
With Wallingford struggling to effectively clear their lines, the next 15 minutes was largely a rear guard action. Now with a 7 point lead, Wycombe kept it simple, rarely electing to run the ball, rather kicking in behind the defence.
With Wallingford getting increasingly frustrated, Wycombe scored the crucial next score. From an attack just inside the Wallingford half, they kicked intelligently cross field, and their winger just about managed not to knock the ball on as he gathered the kick well under-pressure to score in the corner. The Wycombe kicker nailed the conversion again on what was a very impressive display from the kicker.
With time running out, and the game beyond them, Wallingford pushed for a bonus point try, and after some good counter-attacking running, they earned themselves an attacking line-out in the Wycombe twenty-two, from which the pack rumbled over the line for another Norris try.
With the last act of the game, Smith kicked the conversion from out wide to pick up a losing bonus point.
Wallingford will be kicking themselves after this game. The first half display was one of the best this season, and arguably should have gone into half-time 12 points up, if not more. But errors and over-ambition let Wycombe, who took their chances well, back into the game, and they then put in an excellent kicking display to squeeze the life out of Wallingford in the second half.
Still lots of positives, with the U19 players all putting into strong performances, and the pack edging their opponents at set-piece and in the tight.
