Wheatley Resolve Sees Off Aldermaston

Wheatley produced a super final 20 minutes away at Aldermaston to make up for an average opening hour to record their first away win in the league this season. Wheatley opened the scoring with a penalty from Jason 2 minutes in and actually looked the more likely to score a try in the opening exchanges. However, our momentum was constantly slowed by some odd penalties at the breakdown. Aldermaston, playing a simple, direct running game started to dominate the match, making the ageing Wheatley pack chase from one side of the field to the other. This ploy worked well for them as they crossed for 2 converted tries.

Wheatley still threatened, with Lewis and Dan making good ground whenever they got their hands on the ball. However, it looked like it was going to be one of those days when the Aldermaston knocked the ball on when fielding a high kick, regathered before setting up their number 8 to ground the ball a yard short of the line. To the amazement of all (including the highly partisan crowd) the referee ignored both infringements and allowed the score - Aldermaston going at half time 21-3 to the good. The opening 20 minutes of the 2nd half were a stalemate - and then it happened. Billy, making his starting debut for the 1st team throw himself on the ball to stop a home team attack and ended up getting heavily smashed for his troubles. An ambulance had to be called for, and with the light fading, it was decided that we should finish the game on another pitch.

The eyes of the Wheatley pack lit up when they saw this new pitch - it would have been small for a game of 7s. With less side-to-side running to do, the forwards started smashing the ball up for big gains, while the backs started getting in the faces of their opponents, forcing them to make silly errors. The Wheatley scrum started shunting Aldermaston around for fun (Pete managed to hook 4 against the head in a row).

Great handling from Andy and Jason saw Dan score in the corner (Jason landed the touch line conversion), before Charley had a try ruled out in the opposite corner on the advice of the Aldermaston fans. From the following line out Wheatley pressured Aldermaston into conceding a 5 metre scrum - Tam, now playing at 8, picked up and drove over. Wheatley sensed that Aldermaston were there for the taking and rushed to score again - Rob and Ollie both being denied scores by our new favourite referee. Fortunately not even he could find a reason to not allow Wheatley's 3rd try.

As the scrum looked to score a push over, the Aldermaston pack disintegrated and one of their players throw themselves on the ball while it was at Tam's feet. The ref had to choice but to award the penalty try - Jason slotted over the conversion to finally put Wheatley in front. Fittingly the final passage of play was a series of scrums which allowed the clock to be run down and a great comeback complete.

Our joy was heightened when we found out that Billy's ambulance was still at the ground and his paramedics were both rather attractive young ladies - too bad you couldn't move your head to look Billy!