The sun was out for the Oxfordshire Shield semi-final and Wheatley were looking forward to their biggest match in a few years. Despite the 70 point drubbing Wheatley received last season by the same opposition, they were confident of an upset as they fielded one of their strongest sides of the season.

Captain Poochie rallied the team by giving, what he thought, his best motivational team talk ahead of his biggest game thus far. However, no one could work out what he was saying, it went like – woof woof woof grrrrrrrrr bark sniff grrrrrrr bark woof bark grrrrrrrrrr woof.

From the first kick off, Wheatley were on the attack and some good work from Ben Ramsdale turned over the initial kick and set Wheatley on the front foot. Powerful charges from centre Sean O’Leary created space for Adam Muir and the wingers who found their way in to the Chipping Norton 22. A mistake at a ruck allowed Wheatley a scrum on the 5 metre line, and after winning the scrum Ramsdale picked up and charged over the line. However, the conversion was missed by Dingle, like so many of his passes.

Chipping Norton regrouped and started to show some resilience and organisation as they hit back at the Wheatley defence. For most of the first half, Wheatley were able to repel everything thrown at them, and had further chances to increase their lead, but “the wind” played havoc with the backs handling and subsequently knocked on. Come half time, Wheatley surely felt they were in the driving seat for the game being up 5-0.

With the second half and the wind behind them, Wheatley were resurgent and camped for most of the game in the Chipping Norton half. A few moments of desperate defending aside, it was clear Wheatley were not going to be cowed by the opposition being in a league above. However, an uncharacteristic error from full back Duncan Dingle allowed Chipping Norton to hit back and score a converted try with 15 minutes to go.

Again the home side had to rally and that they did. Some strong attacking off the kick off caused a turnover, only for Chipping Norton to venture offside at a ruck allowing replacement scrum half, Gavin Stanton, a straight forward kick at goal. He slotted it and Wheatley were back in front.

With veterans Nick Banton, Jim Shrimpton and Rob Surman on the pitch, Wheatley steadied the ship and started to steal scrums and punish lax defending round the rucks. Confidently holding back the opposition from anything but half chances.

Wheatley won 8-7.

Wheatley now head to the final with a strong win, for the first time in anyone’s memories.