Sat 1 Oct 2022
Wallingford welcomed new guests in Bracknell 2s to the Hithercroft on a beautiful autumnal afternoon as they looked to continue their unbeaten home run.
In selection, injuries, illness and weddings had decimated availability, and after losing Chris Rowland in the morning to illness, Wallingford had to take to the field with a bare 15, with JJ Brown, James Norris and Max Suttner all playing under the weather.
Bracknell started the brighter of the two sides, using their big runners in midfield to batter the Wallingford defence, but Wallingford weathered the early storm well.
It was clear early on that Wallingford were in the ascendancy at scrum time, which gave them a strong platform for the returning Tom Swainston and Jacob Knight at half backs to pull the strings.
Bracknell soon fell foul of the referee, mainly due to tackle height, as they were slow to adjust their tackle height which quickly earned them a yellow card and shifted momentum to the hosts.
After Charles Campbell missed a tricky penalty and Ollie Newell couldn’t hold on to a pinpoint Knight cross-field kick just short of the Bracknell line, Wallingford’s set-piece dominance soon resulted in the opening score. From a scrum 10 meters out, the front row of Norris, Jack Thurston and Lawson Dallimore, on this 50th appearance for the 1st XV, led the pack over the line for Max Suttner, also earning his 50th cap, to dot down for an unconverted try.
Not long afterwards, it was the backs turn to create a try, as the backline combined to put veteran Ralph Smith through a gap in midfield before offloading in the tackle to the supporting Billy McDermott who finished well from 15 meters for his first senior try for the club. Campbell converting.
With the Wallingford defence, with Max Suttner, Felix Harris and McDermott to the fore, holding tight, the half ended 12-0 to the hosts.
The start of the second half was a largely even affair, despite Wallingford going down to 14 men after Jack Thurston somewhat harshly earned Wallingford’s first yellow card of the season for a high tackle.
And shortly after Thurston returned to the field, Wallingford further extended their lead, again through the pack. This time, a well executed catch and drive was rumbled over the line, with Conner Murphy touching down for his ninth try for the club, which Campbell did well to convert.
As the game entered the last quarter, Wallingford’s lack of subs started to show as signs of fatigue began to emerge in defence, which eventually resulted in Bracknell outstripping the Wallingford defence to score on the left.
But the hosts bounced back well going into the last 10, with clever kicking from Campbell and Knight pinning Bracknell back, as Wallingford managed to withhold a late comeback.
And a fine performance was capped off with a bonus point try at the death, as the forwards fittingly had the last word as they marched their counterparts over the line enabling Max Suttner to get his second score, which Campbell converted with the last act of the game.
This was a massive performance from the Wallingford team all things considered. With no substitutes, a back-row with an average age of 19, a makeshift lock in the impressive Tom Bradfield and an ageing centre who made his 1st XV debut before four of his team-mates were born, the commitment and desire shown was amazing, especially in defence.
Felix Harris, in only his second 1st XV match was excellent throughout and showed the team why he was voted Player of the Season for the SDS (U18s) last season, whilst all of the pack were contenders for man of the match, but it went to Jack Thurston who, along with bosom buddy Lawson Dallimore proved a real point of difference both in the scrum and in the loose.
September has been a tough month for Wallingford with a run of 5 straight games (thanks RFU review, great idea!) and availability hamstrung by holidays, injuries and Everest Basecamp trips, but to come away with 3 wins from 5 and 2 bonus points is an excellent reward.
A much deserved week off next week, then hopefully numbers will be back to normal as we visit Reading Abbey on Friday 14th October.
