Wheatley vs Chesham

Picking up where the men in purple left off, last season, Wheatley put in a fine defensive and attacking performance to start the season with a W in the new format league.

With no posts at the Holton field of dreams, and Chesham ground too hard to play at their place, the fixture was played at neighbouring Oxford Quins AGP, the surface favouring Wheatley’s fast paced and flowing style of play.

The game started following a disjointed warm up, with end to end rugby being played by both sides and, Livi and Joe finding space early, punishing the defence with some hot stepping and strong carries. Mid-way through the first, Wheatley were reduced down to 14 for ten minutes with Bland the offending (falsely accused?) player sent to the bin. Wheatley weathered the storm with some tireless defence around the fringes and Sanda leading the blitz on the Chesham line. Smart exits from Laman and Connor pinning Chesham back from the solid platform set by the pack.

The forwards continued to ramp up the pressure up front with some strong scrummaging and dirty work from the pack, and turning over constantly at the line out.

It took late into the half before some big carries from Luke and Sanda, with Connor and Laman creating some space, for Jack “better late than never” Taylor to snipe from the opposition 22 to go in under the sticks. Laman with the extras. HT 7 - 0.

Half time came with all the momentum with Wheatley, and a buoyant gaffer big chief Ward providing another motivational speech - something about, “playing for Wasps, Kuwait, and helicopters”.

Wheatley came out strong with good defence from the kick chase and the forwards forcing the penalty for holding on. Laman opting for the posts, and another sweet strike providing the men in purple with another 3.

The second half continued with more purple ball, effective carries from Costar, Ez and Brook in the loose setting up the platform for Laman’s back line to exploit the space in the Chesham backs. Wheatley line out near the Chesham line and Mitchell’s precision darts finding Caillin at the tail - a rumble from the big boys and the criminal Jack Taylor pouncing on the forwards hard work and dotting down from the back of the maul for the second try of the match. Laman again, faultless, adds the extras. 17 - 0.

With both sides now tiring and space opening up, some dogged defence from the back row and backs kept the Chesham attack narrow and Wheatley able to turnover constantly, exploiting from the line out and scrum, and, with the clock running down, some smooth hands from a kick return with Joe Taylor deservedly going round the Chesham defence and touching down for the men in purple’s last try of the day. Laman again with the extras.

Connor limped off late in the game due to a broken nail, and the bull dozing Luke back into the centres giving Chesham more headaches up the middle.

Wheatley with more pressure late in the game but unable to convert the bonus point, and the game finishes FT 24 - 0.

Huge shift from the men in purple who can take great credit beating an experienced Chesham side and keeping a clean sheet.

Special mention to Ronaldo, Livi, Luke, and Connor for huge performances throughout the backs, solid in defence and massive in attack.

Roll on next week and an away trip to Chipping Norton.

MOM - Costar, huge in the loose, line out and steering the ship from 8. Big shout out to Sanda for relentless blitz defence, work around the fringes, and damaging carries.

DOD - Bland sin bin

Tries - Jack Taylor x2, Joe Taylor
Conversion - Laman x3
Penalties - Laman