Sun 23 Jan 2022, 14:00
The Senior Development Squad welcomed Shipston-on-Stour to the Hithercroft for their first league fixture of 2022. In selection, despite a growing injury list, Wallingford were still able to field a strong XV, with Sam ‘make love not’ Waugh coming in to the starting pack, and Alister Marsden returning in the backs.
The opening exchanges were a typically physical affair, as Shipston used their large pack to test the Wallingford defence, but it was Wallingford who opened the scoring with a well struck penalty by Matt Jarvis.
Wallingford began to grow into the game, and soon extended their lead. After the forwards worked their way into the Shipston twenty-two, the backs moved the ball wide where Felix Cotton put Toby Bucknell in space to finish from 10 yards.
Wallingford continued to play patient, structured rugby, and were soon rewarded with another try. After they took play up to the Shipston line, Felix Harris saw his chance and burrowed over from short range.
And the host’s excellent first half was completed with an individual piece of brilliance from Cotton. With Wallingford seemingly struggling to break down the Shipston defence on halfway, Tom Perrott moved the ball left to Cotton, who danced through the defensive line, before showing his pace by racing in from 50 yards.
Half time : Wallingford 20 – 0 Shipston-on-Stour
The second half was a more scrappy affair, as the flow of the game was punctured by the referee’s whistle, as both teams got a bit excitable at the breakdown.
Wallingford did secure the four try bonus point half-way through the half, as Big Bob Moroney continued his excellent scoring form with another short range score, taking his season’s combined striking distance to 95cm.
Wallingford continued to edge play, as their superior fitness enabled them to continually pressure Shipston when they had the ball, and this even led to one more try, as Toby Bucknell picked off a pass in the Shipston twenty-two to score under the posts.
There was still time for a deserved score for the visitors, as they forced their way over as the game neared an end.
The game finished with Wallingford winning 32-5, and in doing so guaranteeing top spot in the league and earning them a home semi-final.
This was another impressive performance from Wallingford, whose defence proved to be a point of difference yet again, whilst in attack, though at times it faultered, still had enough to cross the whitewash five times.
1.Purnell (Yendole) 2.Hall 3.Bumpass 4.Allum 5.Miller 6.Harris (Furlonger) 7.Waugh (Holland) 8.Moroney 9.Perrott 10.Marsden 11.Lecky-Thompson (Pickard) 12.Brown 13.Jarvis 14.Bucknell 15.Cottong
