Sat 3 Dec 2022
On a chilly afternoon at the Hithercroft, Wallingford welcomed second placed Marlow as they looked to build on the previous week’s victory over High Wycombe.
In selection, Wallingford were without a number of regulars due to injury, illness and prior commitments, so there was a new centre partnership in James Springer and Nathan Chapman, whilst in the pack there was a debut for James Thomson in the front row as well as a seasonal bow for veteran James Willcox-Jones in the back row.
The hosts got off to a poor start within the first few minutes of the game. After a harsh offside penalty gave Marlow the opportunity to kick into the Wallingford twenty-two, a well-executed catch and drive saw the visitors eventually drive over the line for a converted try.
Wallingford reacted well, and soon reduced the deficit with a well struck Charles Campbell penalty after Marlow had infringed at the breakdown.
Marlow, who were looking for the 50-20 on several occasions early on, gifted Wallingford an attacking scrum in their half after a long kick went dead, and from the ensuing scrum, a kick ahead by Campbell bounced kindly for the chasing Jack Payne who touched down for his third try of the season, which Campbell converted well.
A period of stalemate followed as both teams were held back by poor handling and play rarely ventured into either twenty two. The only notable action in the remainder of the half was a missed Marlow penalty from right in front of the posts, meaning that Wallingford maintained their three point lead going into half time.
With all to play for in the second half, it was Wallingford who got the crucial next score, through a combination of fortune and individual skill. From a Marlow scrum on their own twenty-two, the ball squirted out the side to Jack Payne who showed brilliant footwork and strength to crash over for a try that Campbell converted.
The next quarter saw both teams create several half chances, but good set-piece defence from Marlow and excellent scramble defence from the hosts saw neither team add to their scores.
After the sin-binning of Nathan Chapman (his record 14th for the club), Marlow continued to press, but strong defence and the clearing boot of Charles Campbell kept the visitors out, even when a loose pass almost saw Marlow go over with 10 minutes to go.
By this stage Marlow were running everything, mainly through their powerful 10, as they stretched the Wallingford defence to their limits. With one minute to go, Conner Murphy was sent to the bin and from the ensuing scrum the Marlow 10 powered over for a converted try, but this proved to be last act of the game, as Wallingford finished 17-12 winners.
This was a hard-fought game between two physical, well-organised sides. Given the enforced changes and new combinations, Wallingford’s performance was impressive, with Springer and Chapman forming an effective defensive unit in midfield, whilst James Willcox-Jones and James Thomson contributed heavily to an abrasive and combative display from the pack.
But man-of-the-match went to Jacob Knight, who controlled the game well from 10 and was fearless as ever in defence.
A special mention must go to Pete Holton, who picked up his 300th 1st XV cap after coming off the bench in the second half – only the second ever player in the history of the club to reach the milestone.
