Sat 18 Jan 2020, 14:00
Witney Travelled across to High Wycombe knowing nothing less than a strong performance would do. Injuries and unavailability’s once again saw the changes to the starting line up.
The games importance was boosted by the fact the winners also progressed into the next round of the RFU intermediate cup as both clubs agreed on it being a double header.
The kick off was brought forward to 2pm by the home side but they seemed to have forgotten this and had left Witney out on the pitch whilst they had a warm in the changing rooms, eventually coming out and a minutes silence for High Wycombe Legend Ray Curly Payne before the game started.
Wycombe fired up and ready to go and Witney out of sorts and hit by a frantic start as after 1 minute a chase through led to Wycombe’s Jake Banton touching down, conversion missed 5-0
Restart Wycombe’s Tom Bosley runs under the post Bickford converts 12-0 Could it get any worse well yes 11 minutes Bickford slots a penalty 15-0 This saw Witney make a rapid 3 replacements and within 3 minutes the kick up the backside seemed to have payed off as Carl Campbell went over conversion missed 15-5
Wycombe still looking dominant and Witney still spluttering like a car on a cold day conceded 3 penalties in a row all scored by Bickford 24-5 The referee now dishing out yellow cards saw Witney down to 13 men as Captain Rob Coe and Fly Half Puddle saw Yellow. Wycombe brought on Micheal Fradgley for Andrew Murray but he only lasted 3 minutes before seeing Yellow. Witney looking to score before halftime did so when Ryan Harris went over from a driving scrumage , conversion missed.
Half Time score 24-10
On 45 minutes in centre Callum Godfrey scored and Puddle converted 24-17 had the tide turned no not yet as Wycombe’s Oliver Fennell-Wells touched down and Bickford added the extras 31-17
Witney Cheered on by a big away support now seemed to be playing the rugby we know they can as on the 65minute Wayne Caffekey went over and Clarke added the extras 31-24 and on the 74th minute a great cross field kick from Ollie |Toner found Rob Coe who scored and Clarke added the extras 31-31 Witney now looking at taking home 2 points pushed on as another score would mean all 5 points and the cup win. And so it was as Centre Clarke crashed over in the corner 31-36 conversion missed. A nervous 3 minutes left as Wycombe now looked to reply . Resolute defending and a strange referee decision saw Carl Campbell yellow carded this had the Witney had the supporters on the vallium but we need not worry as we managed the game out. Final score 31-36
Wycombe must have been gutted they played so well , arguably the better team lost but the strength of a good team is to win when you don’t play well and that’s what Witney did.
A big thank you to the Don Dickerson for the Pre match meal and hospitality to all our players and supporters and RIP Curly from all at Witney RFC
