Sat 6 Nov 2021
Wallingford travelled to local rivals Didcot after two wins via default, after Hungerford and Windsor pulled out in recent weeks. There were a raft of changes to the team, too many to list, but the upshot was a squad of about 15 forwards and 5 backs.
The game got off to a tetchy start, but it was Didcot who were more aggressive at the breakdown and, as such, dominated play. Wallingford failed to adapt to some of the referee's interpretations of laws and gave away a succession of penalties in the first 10 minutes. With the wind behind them, Didcot edged up the pitch and scored, I can't remember if it was a good try or converted. With a lack of game time and many new combinations, Wallingford were struggling to find rhythm; the 9 and 10 of Rhys Arnold and Tom Hill taking the longest to settle. However, Wallingford did work their way back into the game, showing more composure at the breakdown and starting to make some inroads through big runners Pat McKenna and Andy Gillies. That being said, the next two tries went Didcot's way and were, in no small part, down to their two Pacific Islanders. During their first half cameo's both players showed a level of skill and ability rarely seen at BB&O South 3 level, and their incisive and direct running saw them score two converted tries.
At 17-0 the half time team-talk was difficult but specific - manage the breakdowns, forget point/pivot, and get the ball wide asap. To their credit Wallingford committed to executing this and, with the wind behind them, it started to pay dividends. However, it took a Didcot mistake for Wallingford to register their first points. Offloading in the tackle had served them well all game but one too many saw the ball go loose in midfield and Ollie Wigg, who was a threat all day, gathered and raced in from his own half; Arnold converted. Another try soon followed as Didcot fell the wrong side of the referee. Wallingford edged up the pitch into the 22 and moved the ball from right to left, then back to the right. With an overlap on it was Guy Hewitt, cleverly positioned to exploit numbers out wide (or getting up from the first set of phases - you decide) finished well; Arnold converting.
Into the last 15 and, with Wallingford in the ascendency, Didcot managed a score against the run of play after a neat break in midfield and a couple of good offloads. Undeterred Wallingford got back into the game after another great break form Wigg saw him stopped illegally 5 meters from the line by the last man. Despite no penalty try, Pete Holton took a quick tap, fed Hill who drew his man and popped to Gillies to power over; Arnold again converting.
3 points in it with 5 minutes to go and Wallingford had the opportunity to win it. After sucking in Didcot, they sent the ball wide on the halfway line where Ollie Kyle beat his opposite man and raced to within 5 meters of the line, only to be tackled (well) by the 15 who then gave a away a cynical (but clever) penalty by failing to roll away. Wallingford were blocked in their efforts to take a quick tap and, with their defence reorganised, Didcot managed to turn the ball over and kick it out in their dead ball area to finish the game.
It was a frustrating end to the game but the team can be proud of their second half comeback. The way they executed the plan from Coach Poudling at half time shows a level of competency and maturity that will serve them well. Having more players at training to practice key combinations (get your arses down) will help, and they are unlikely to have to face game-changing Fijians too often in the future. The back three of Wigg, Kyle, and Greg Fairchild were excellent throughout, but MoTM went to Tom Diment who led the charge with aggression and tempo for the full 80 mins. Special mention to, at one end of the spectrum, youngsters Archie Davis and Harvey Miller (great to have you with us) and, at the other end, the FRU of Doug, Guy and Jon (great to have you with us still too...still!)
