Wheatley unbeaten in Berkshire.
Wheatley maintain their 100% record in Berkshire with a game of 2 half's,
Traveling to reading and not making good time after a delayed departure Wheatley’s pre match preparations were not ideal, nevertheless Wheatley hit the ground running with half backs Andy Willis and Jack Taylor dictating play, it wasn’t long before Wheatley’s prolonged possession saw Willis create space and force his way over to open the scoring, 0-5 Jack Taylor added the conversion. 0-7
Wheatley continued to play at pace and moving the ball into the wide areas allowed the visitors to break the gain line and offer real threat and with forwards and backs demonstrating slick interplay not witnessed at this level before this season, opportunities to increase the scoreline did offer them selves but on more than one occasion the final pass didn’t go to hand, Joe Taylor did eventually add 5 more points what was going to become a staple feature of the afternoons play, working hard in contact and giving a fine demonstration of a human pin ball seemingly ricocheting off of the home sides defence to spin, bounce and drive his way over. Jack Taylor missing the conversion. 0-12
Jack Taylor was the next man on the scoresheet with more of the same from the Wheatley pack driving deep into the heart of the Shirehall defence and controlling the breakdown well, with a scrum just inside the 22 Jack was able to pick up a scrappy ball and accelerate beyond the defenders and over the try line to score, 0-17
Wheatley’s continuity was challenged with Andy Willis picking up an ankle injury and Josh Hillsdon having strained his hamstring, this gave the home side hope, and allowed them to settle into a rhythm and utilising their big ball carrying forwards and test the visitors resolve adding 2 unconverted tries from close range to go into the second half only trailing by 7.
Half time 7-17
Wheatley had their work cut out from the re-start as Shirehall were clearly buoyed now having points on the board this was compounded with further injury woe after scrum half Jack Taylor picked up an horrific knee injury that ended his afternoon, Wheatley were forced to re-shuffle with Cailin Taylor the only play with any scrum half credentials switching to 9 and Simon Chadbone slipping back into the number 8 position and Alex Gabbond replacing him in the second row,
With 5 front row now on the field Wheatley were more inept to deal with the physicality and kept Shire hall at bay for long periods, even turning the ball over several times and demonstrating that even those more familiar with the dark arts can at times play like their inner fly half!
Wheatley locked out the half and secured the victory even more impressive given Shire Hall have only been beaten once at home all season, again the injury list continues to grow but having given an impressive debut Ezra Rees and Matt Richards from the bench gives reassurance that Wheatley's club development continues.