Beaconsfield 12 - Witney 14
Apr
Playing with the elements in the first half, Witney felt they would need a
sizeable lead before the break but were only one try to the good and were not
threatening to score another. The home side built some pressure late on and
despite Witney holding the first couple of attacks at bay, their second row
charged over from short range as Witneys defense left an inviting hole which he
could not resist. The conversion made it 7 a piece and Beaconsfield went into
the interval confident of repeating their victory of earlier in the season.
Coaches Campbell and Harper remained calm but urged their players for a bit more
and skipper Jez Hicks and his team responded superbly and produced 10-15 minutes
of excellent rugby just after the break. This culminated in a try for Louie
Collins which was as good as the boys have produced all season. From inside his
own half, Collins fielded a wayward (not the first) kick from Beaconsfield and
ran back into the midfield. Carl Strutt timed his run back nicely to link with
Collins and then James Monks and Johnny Wheater before finally passing back to
Collins who had enough gas to get across the line to finish with a flourish.
Henry Lamb slotted the conversion from under the posts which proved crucial in
the end.
Beaconsfield came back into the game in spells but like Witney in the first
half, they failed to make the most of the elements. That said they did score
with around 10 minutes remaining but Witney forced the try out wide and the
missed conversion was crucial and Witney held on for two valuable points which
lifts them to the top half of the table and they could finish as high as 5th if
results go their way next week.
The first half should have seen Witney using the wind and slope to pin
Beaconsfield back but the home side got the tactics right and their forwards
worked hard to grind out the yards and varied their kicking options too which
helped them starve the visitors of consistent ball. Their rush defence was also
thwarting any flow Witney were looking to build and Will Worrall in particular
was on the end of a couple of thumping tackles – which as usual he just gets up
from and looks for more! Despite Jez Hicks and Jimmy Collis bossing the lineouts
and Norm Serle, Adam Copperwheat and Rikki Dore edging the scrummage battle,
Witney looked all too frantic and tried to make things happen rather than
building through the phases and letting them happen. They knew they needed first
half points and eventually they came as James Monks was unleashed on the wing he
stepped inside his opposite number and ran through two more tackles for a fine
try, with Will Worrall in support (but not needed) for every step. Henry Lamb
converted from in front which he was relieved about after pulling his opening
penalty effort.
Most of the urgency was coming from the home side for the rest of the half and
despite Witney doing some good things, they couldn’t put the phases together and
never really hit top gear. Both Lambys had their moments and the back row of
Worrall, Jimi Collis and Carl Campbell all did some good things, as did the
boiler house of Owen Fowler and Jez Hicks but the forwards all to often gave
Gareth Campbell some scrappy ball and the physicality of the home tackling will
ensure the young scrum half would wake up the next day knowing he had been in a
battle.
The second half swung in that excellent period after the break and the
initiative and self belief really hit home during that spell with wingers Monksy
and Louie both running back at the home side to great effect. The replacements
all got on and made an impact too with Rory Cookson entering the fray and showed
up very well in the lose, James Elwood showing some classy touches in midfield
and included one fine tackle on his opposite number and finally Alan Richens
coming in being his usual solid and reliable self. Even when Will Worrall was
sin binned for preventing the release of what would have been a certain try,
Witney never panicked and kept their cool with some solid phases to see the
match out.
A fine win at a difficult venue and a good match between two sides who have both
promised more than they have delivered this season but who put on a good match
for the sizeable crowd last weekend. The lads can now look to next weeks final
home match with Amersham and Chiltern and they will be looking to reverse the
narrow defeat of earlier in the season. If Witney win and Beaconsfield lose to
leaders Olney, Witney would complete their season in 5th spot.
1st XV
Wheater, Collins(L) , Lamb(J), Strutt, Monks, Lamb(H), Campbell(G) : Dore,
Copperwheat(A), Serle, Fowler, *Hicks(J), Worrall, Campbell(C), Collis
Repl: Cookson(Collis-50), Elwood(Strutt-60), Richens(Fowler-65)
VIEW FROM THE TOUCHLINE
An enjoyable match but after getting their tactics right in the first half and
scoring late on, I thought Beaconsfield looked in good shape to do the double
over us. That excellent 15 minutes after the break definitely swung the match
and Louie'€™s try was the icing on the cake which was the best try of the
afternoon and therefore (just about) deservedly took the spoils for Witney. All
the players contributed something to proceedings and hopefully next week they
can finish with a flourish and give Jimi a good send off in what will be his
last match.
