Slough 7 - Witney 49
The trip to Slough is always a little bit of a lottery and it was essential that
the boys were on their mettle to avoid a slip up the more so as Slough have
notched up some good wins to place them mid – table. So when there was no sign
of the Witney team at 14.27 with a 14.30 kick off looming, things did not look
too good. Road accidents on the M40 and the A404 turned it into a 2 hour journey
with no time for a warm up. Slough on the other hand had had so much warm up
time that they retreated to their dressing room for 20 minutes before kick off.
The opening exchanges had a sense of the frantic about them – overanxious and
impatient. It was not long however before Witney were on the board with a well
taken try by James Lamb converted by Eddie Mitchem. Witney extended
their lead shortly afterwards with a penalty by Eddie again, who has really
discovered his kicking boots this season. There were still too many penalties
being given away by over-anxiety and impatience. But Witney were getting into
their stride when a rushed pass from James Lamb was neatly intercepted for a
Slough try against the run of play, which was converted to bring the score to
7 : 10. Witney knuckled down and surging runs from Wayne Cafferky and the ever
improving Charly Bennett put Witney back into the ascendancy. A further penalty
from Steady Eddie eased the nerves and Witney began to move the ball about with
confidence leading to further tries from James Monks and Tim Muller brought up
half time at 7 : 25.
Slough never gave up however and their full back and scrum half put their bodies
on the line to stop a rampaging James Monks and Tim Muller. Witney were going
well now and the forwards pounded the opposition, especially Wayne Cafferky,
Charly Bennett and Joe Rowles putting all sorts of pressure on the opposition.
However, Witney had to be careful of not falling foul of the referee with some
injudicious naughty stuff in the rucks and another ref may have been tempted to
get the yellow out. But there was no holding the boys and further efforts from
Louie Collins (x 2) and Joe Rowles as well as a penalty from Eddie and 2 further
conversions put them out of sight. Eddie was brought off to protect his larynx
no doubt but there was no let up for Slough. A final conversion from Henry Lamb
was the icing on the cake and the ref decided to put Slough out of their misery
by blowing full time 3 – 4 minutes early.
A great team performance all round and its upwards and onwards to next Saturday
when Swindon are guests at Hailey Road.
1st XV
Mitchem, Overbury, Collins(L), Strutt, *Lamb(J), Monks, Lamb(H), Campbell(G):
Griffiths, Serle, Kerr, Collins(S), Richens, Rowles, Bennett, MacBurnie,
Muller, Campbell(C), Caffekey
