The second team started the day in their usual fashion, getting to know the opposition whilst waiting for Captain Pete Ramsdale to arrive and open up the clubhouse. It was during this time that Wheatley’s 7 were starting to wonder whether they would have enough, despite assurances of having 16 the day before. This was exacerbated by the look of the Bicester squad who seem to gather en masse. Luckily it was soon apparent that most were supporters and Bicester only had 15!
Eventually Pete showed up, but not before the panic alarms were raised and a phone calls were made to persuade Alfie Wood to come back early from injury and Clive Durbin to forget he was 62 and that he only has 30 minutes of rugby to his name in the last 30 years. Wheatley were now up to 17 (once Irish Jonny had arrived) but a chronic lack of backs gave James Norton his first start at scrum half.
A strong wind greeted the players on the pitch and a chill was in the air so extra effort was made to stay warm, increasing the usual warm up to a total of 6 line outs before conserving energy for the start of the game.
Bicester got the game under way, sending the kick off straight down Trev’s throat, who inexplicitly decided to flap at the ball and immediately put Wheatley on the back foot, with Bicester turning the ball over and walking over the line unopposed within the first minute. A terrible start, but at least things couldn’t get any worse… until Andy Caldicott scuffs the kick off, giving Bicester a scrum and 3 phases of play before camping on the 5m line and Wheatley failing to post any sort of guard on the ruck, allowing a Bicester player to leave Pete Ramsdale for dust and again go over unopposed. 12-0 Bicester and less than 6 minutes gone.
This was the last straw and finally Wheatley decided to at least compete at some of their own rucks, which allowed the centre partnership of Jack Smith and Alfie Wood to stretch their legs, making ground with almost every touch eventually leading to Jack going over midway through the first half and the first of many missed conversions.
After being blanked 3 or 4 times by Jack, Alfie eventually got in on the act, scoring one of his own after breaking a tackle and leaving the full back for dead. Another missed conversion and Wheatley were now only 2 points behind. Game on.
The remainder of the half was a fairly unremarkable until Matt Gibb got the crowd (who had now retreated into the container for some warmth) on their feet as he broke through two tackles on the half way line and had the try line in his sights. Unfortunately for someone who spends so much time in the gym, he has never seen a treadmill and so his quest to make the 40m to the try line was cut short as was his game just moments later.
Half time came and went with the usual effs and jeffs in between and Wheatley, now with the wind behind them, started the second how they ended the first, in ascendancy. A clever kick over the top by Irish Jonny allowed the chasers to barrel the receiving Bicester player into touch and after a successful line out lead to a short maul, the ball was spun out to the backs, although they weren’t backs, it was Joe Hyde! With Jonny calling for it, Bicester underestimated the big man, who with a deft dummy and quick side step, sold 3 Bicester players and allowed him to float in to the right of the posts. The conversion was missed. Another was soon added with Irish Jonny side stepping his way through the Bicester team all the way to the try line. A change in kicker was called for, with James Norton confidently stepping up. Conversion missed.
Despite Wheatley feeling comfortable and Bicester having a few walking wounded, Wheatley were only one point ahead going into a nervy last 15. With the game getting scrappy and both teams struggling with fitness, gaps started to appear, allowing James Norton to take full advantage and break from half way, pin his ears back and (despite slowing rapidly) score in the corner. The conversion was skilfully missed to give Wheatley a 25-19 lead with 5 minutes to spare.
All they had to do was hold on to the ball and the win was theirs, however with their passion for jeopardy, the Wheatley side decided to let a Bicester score another try that could only happen in the BBO4 as a player was allowed to pick the ball from a ruck and run unopposed down the blind side, amid cries of “under the posts” from his teammates, knowing the conversion would win the game. Fortunately, Jack Smith gave chase and put just enough pressure on the Bicester player to decide that 5 points is better than none. A Tricky kick to win the game that was only narrowly missed.
With only 30 seconds to go, Andy Caldicott expertly decided to what can only be described as “T*at” the kick off, nearly knocking the receiving Bicester player off his feet with the resulting knock prompting the Ref to blow the whistle on the narrowest of victories!
A lucky escape for the 2nds who are now on a 4 game winning streak and will travel to Buckingham looking to extend the run to 5.