All Even as Wheatley draw with Littlemore

Wheatley and Littlemore played out a dramatic 19-19 draw at the Oxford Academy - a result which still leaves second place still up for grabs.

Second-placed Littlemore are not absolutely sure of securing promotion and with Chesham and Wheatley still in hot pursuit with Tadley an outside bet.

Wheatley came out of the blocks scoring inside 2 minutes, putting Littlemore under pressure from the outset Wheatley’s intent was clear moving the big Littlemore forwards around jack Taylors quick ball from the base of the ruck found makeshift fly half Alex Gabbidon who intern picked out Simon Chadbone’s hard line and the defensive line was breached with the tryline calling Chadbone delivered an inside ball to Jack Taylor who finished to the right of the posts with Aaron Laman adding the conversion.

The highlight of an incident-packed game was a stunning team try finished off by Wheatley wing Toby Butler, with great patience from the Wheatley attack in building phases the balll was released to the left of the field with Jack Taylor making the break and intern gave the inside ball to Toby to get the second score for Wheatley with Aaron again adding the extras.

Wheatley , buoyed by the error fraught defense, spent the first quarter camped in and around the Littlemore 22. The pressure was unrelenting as the home defence was forced to repulse wave after wave of attacks, eventually the relentless attacks bearded fruit with Wheatley stretching the defensive line and Jordan Hook adding further misery to Littlemore Aaron missing the conversion.

Wheatley were dealt a blow with Michael Ridge forced off with a knee injury this limited the options at the line out although Wheatley saw out the half in the Littlemore 22.

The second half proved more frustrating to Wheatley with the purple men struggling with the refs interpretation of the breakdown and Littlemore benefiting from the luck of the bounce, Littlemore pressed hared and to their credit eventually the home sides tighthead diving over from close range. With the conversion missed

Littlemore continued in the same vein Wheatleys defence held tight but with a succession of penalties found themselves under the cosh with Littlemore crossing the white wash with a converted try,

Wheatley with just a minute to play thought they had seen the ball go dead but a lucky bounce saw the hone team with an attacking line out on the 5 meter line, a well rehearsed lineout allowed the Littlemore tight head to move in at pace and crash over with the conversion added giving Littlimited the draw.

A great team performance from Wheatley, Littlemore will probably feel they had a let off with the result notable performers Sanda, James Neal with Moose having a great game prior to getting injured.