A few late changes were forced to be made after Simon Chadbone and Ezra Rees were incapacitated through illness and dan rule was sidelined through injury, but otherwise a strong squad of 20 players arrived raring to go.

Wheatley started the game strongly soon putting pressure on the oxford side and forcing several turn overs, eventually resulting in a penalty in front of the posts that Aaron Laman successfully slotted.

The wheatley 8 were showing there’s no replacement for experience and were dominating the set pieces with the scrum and line out functioning well. It was from one scrum that the forwards dug in, applied the pressure and with the oxford pack crumbling, James Butler was the benefactor of a push over. Laman converted 10-0 wheatley.

Wheatley continued to apply the pressure, however with the rain falling and cold hands not quite functioning, the final ball was missing and despite spending most of the time in the oxford half, Wheatley failed to capitalise, with only another Laman penalty to show for their endeavours. 13-0

The ferocity of the game was now showing with players from both sides going down injured. Joe Hobdell had a short rest with a shin injury, Jordan Hook had to be removed with a head injury, as did an oxford player.

it was actually oxford who came closest to scoring with the pact winger beating several Wheatley players before a good scramble defence managed to haul him down and turn the ball over just short of Wheatley’s try line. A let of for wheatley that they did not learn from as moments later the same thing happened however this time the winger crossed the line. Conversion missed 13-5

The final say of the half came from Laman’s boot, slotting a penalty again. 16-5 wheatley.

Half time came and went and the second half started much as the first ended, with Wheatley showing great enterprise but failing to complete. To their credit, Oxford also stepped up their game and in what is becoming far too familiar, Wheatley’s discipline started to slip and gave away penalty after penalty. Luckily oxford failed to convert and instead it was Wheatley who slotted the only points of the half, with Laman kicking another penalty and the game finished 19-5.

Wheatley are in the last 4 of the competition with Littlemore, Alchester and Blue Boar the draw will take place week ending the 10th of december.