Sat 26 Jan 2019
WITNEY 15 - 5 STRATFORD UPON AVON
A strongish, kick assisting, southerly, blowing up the pitch, for the match against, "bottom of the League", Stratford. A side which, narrowly, won the fixture in September. Witney would want 5 points from this game.
Witney kicked off and soon gained possession and were attacking in Stratford's Half. Witney mauled from a Penalty Lineout on the 22. Released the ball left. An unsuccessful Ruck,Pick & Drive, in front of the posts on the 5m. Ball left for a second Ruck. Ball left to Prop Dan Wakeman who looked as though he was charging for the Line but a quick pass left gave RW Rhys Morgan, in the Line, a gap through which he broke, for the first Try of the game. 5 - 0
(8 mins)Sratford narrowly missed a Try after a huge pass put their LW away, but his foot hit the Touch Line 3m out.
(20 mins)Play had mainly been between the 22s Stratford putting together the better looking rugby. Then Stratford Flanker and Captain, John Burns - Yellow Card. Rikki Dore on for Prop Adam Nobbs.
(28 mins)A good attack by Witney led to RP&D on Stratford's 5m. The ball was spread, right, along the Backs but a good scoring chance was lost due to a poor pass and the ball bounced into Stratford hands and taken down to Witney's 5m, where Witney's defence held out.
( 36 mins)Dore back on the field but not for long - Yellow Card after offence in Witney's22. Stratford chose a Penalty Scrum which they won and the No8 with one hand flicked the ball back to the, lying off, SH and a long pass to LW, Charles Powell, gave him space to go over and touch down. 5 - 5
Uuntil the Half time whistle, Stratford played some attractive rugby - spreading the ball and good backing up. Half Time
Witney had started off at a cracking pace, up to the try, but Stratford soon came into the game and in open play had looked to have the edge on Witney, for most of the Half. Witney's tight scrum had put pressure on Stratford's and had won some Penalties. Also Witney' Lineout play was good. Surprisingly Stratford had not used the wind.
Stratford kicked off the 2nd Half and in the 4th minute Witney No 8, Wayne Caffekey, was Yellow carded.
(9 mins)Stratford still playing the best Rugby but unable to break the Witney defence.
(11 mins)Stratford player Yellow Card, 30m out and Witney FH, Ted Landray, slotted the Penalty Goal. 8 - 5
Witney now started to use the strong wind and Landray put in some excellent long kicks, turning the Stratford back three putting the Stratford side under pressure.
(18 mins) After a Witney Penalty Lineout and driving maul, another Stratford Yellow Card. Using the two man advantage, Witney chose Penalty Scrum and drove Stratford back to their Line. Another Penalty Scrum led to a second Witney Try for Morgan and a difficult Landray conversion. 15 - 5
(34 mins)Instead of going for a Penalty goal in front of the posts Witney chose a Penalty Lineout which came to nothing. except another Stratford player Yellow Carded.
After The Witney Goal in the 18th min, Stratford tried running every thing back at Witney.
Again they looked good with forwards and Backs moving the ball and support play. The ball moving through many hands. But the movement usually started from well into their own Half giving the Witney defence time to organise. During one of these attacks the Witney Captain and Centre, Matt Clarke - Red Card for a high tackle. No Side.
"A win is a win", but no 5 points. Not an attractive game of Rugby. One cannot expect anything else. With players "off the field" a team loses its cohesion! All subs got on: Dore, Jack Birks and Ben MacPherson who is to be congratulated on his first League appearance for the 1st XV, and he aquitted himself very well.
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