Wheatley beat Chippy

A very wet afternoon at Holton Playing fields for the BBO Championship match between Wheatley and Chipping Norton and not really the conditions for the fast flowing rugby we have become accustomed to in recent weeks,

Wheatley kicked off and immediately set the tempo, looking to carry hard and deep into the visitors 22. With great continuity from the Wheatley pack it wasn’t long before Chipping Norton conceded a penalty for entering from the side and this was soon to become the theme of the afternoon! Aaron Laman opened the scoring with 3 points 3-0

Chipping Norton immediately responded with, considering the conditions, an exceptional try with slick interplay from both forwards and backs creating space for chippy to score out wide. Conversion missed 3-5

Wheatley now had a measure of the operation in hand and began to influence the game. Wheatley's pack regained control of the game and with some well positioned kicks from flyhalf Andy Willis, Wheatley were able to demonstrate this dominance taking the line out and setting up a well executed maul setting up inform second row Nick Banton for his second try in successive weeks. 8-5 Laman missed the conversion 8-5

Wheatley continued to press the Chippy defence and again side entry was Chippy’s downfall allowing Laman to add 3 points from the resulting penalty, 11-5

Yet more penalties from Chippy and Wheatley this time took the scrum option over the kick. With the pack again in full control and Chippy conceding further penalties at the scrum, when the ball was unleashed Centre Jack Taylor was able to Jink his way through the defence and under the posts, 16-5 Laman converted 18-5

Half Time 18-5

Wheatley came out with similar intent in the second half and created plenty of opportunity but were struggling in the conditions and too often seeing the ball knocked on. Despite this, Chippy again conceded at the break down giving Laman another shot at goal, 21-5

From the restart Wheatley were once again in the ascendance eating up the yards in defence, with Chippy under constant pressure it wasn’t long before the visitors were adjudged to have held on, Laman did the rest adding 3 more to this tally, 24-5.

After some stern words from the their coach Chippy, to their credit excited the play again and found themselves in the home side's 22 recycling quickly and using the blindside well, Chippy added 5 points out wide but missed the subsequent penalty, 24-10

Wheatley were reduced to 14 with replacement centre Sanda Mapaza harshly penalised for a hard tackle.

Wheatley tried in vein to add to their tally but Chippy held on and the ref blew up early due to bad light, Full time 24-10

Wheatley were left a little frustrated as more opportunities went begging but with the packs continuity the set piece goes from strength to strength, Wheatley also take heart from the strength in depth that is beginning to show, as was demonstrated off of the bench on Saturday.

Words - Tam