First XV - Match center

Gosford All Blacks
Wallingford
Tries
M Suttner, J Edwards, H Lewis
Conversions
P Dawes (2)
Penalties
P Dawes (2)
Sat 27 Jan TBC - South West Division - Southern Counties North Full time

Firsts Win Soggy Encounter At Gosford All Blacks

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Wallingford secured a comfortable victory against Gosford All Blacks on a heavy pitch, but just missed out on a try bonus point.

Wallingford travelled to North Oxford for a county derby against Gosford All Blacks, after the pitch had been deemed playable after some heavy rain in the lead up to the match.
In selection, Dan Sadler, Nathan Chapman and Dave Baxter joined Carl Tappin, Jackson Sayce and Joe Drew in the list of unavailable regulars, but they were able to welcome back Tom Swainston following the birth of his first child, whilst Harry Lewis played a rare game for the Club on the flank.
GAB started the brighter of the two teams, as Wallingford made a sloppy start, and only some fine last ditch tackles prevented an early score for the home side. With Wallingford struggling to clear their lines and penalties going against them, GAB kicked to the corner on several occasions to launch their catch and drive, but strong defence from the Wallingford pack defence resisted.
After a hectic opening 20 minutes in which the hosts dominated possession, the visitors began to work their way back into the game. With GAB starting to flag after a strong start, Wallingford's big ball carriers started to make inroads, with John Hayden making lots of yards, but in difficult conditions, they struggled to convert their chances.
The first score finally went to the hosts, as Phil Dawes converted a penalty from thirty meters out, before doubling the lead with a much simpler chance that clipped the post on the way through.
With the half nearing an end, the crucial first try went to the visitors. From a scrum in their own twenty two, the enigmatic GAB fly-half went for an ambitious cross-field kick to the right, but Max Suttner read the kick and fielded the ball on the bounce, before beating two would be tacklers to score his first try for the 1st XV. With Dawes's conversion the half ended 13-0 to Wallingford.
With Wallingford in the ascendancy, they dominated the next half hour, with the pack, spearheaded by the likes of Hayden, Lewis, Jeffreys and Greenway, carrying plenty of yards into the GAB defence.
The next try went to Harry Lewis, as he hit a good hard line and sliced through the GAB defence for an unconverted score.
With the set-piece dominant, with Jack Thurston and Jack Greenway forming a strong partnership with James Norris in the front row, the next try came from the base of a powerful scrum, with Jack Edwards sniping over from ten meters for his first try for the 1st XV.
The final quarter saw GAB pick up a consolation try from their scrum half, before Wallingford pushed for the bonus point fourth try. But determined GAB defence and indiscipline cost Wallingford, as they wasted several good opportunities and the game ended 25-5 to Wallingford.
This was a good performance in tough conditions, especially considering the absences. Wallingford's defence was excellent across the park, and the forward's dominance paved the way for an attritional win.
Their were fine performances all over the park, with Swainston back pulling the strings at 10, and Tom Hill excellent in the loose, but Man of the Match went yet again to Jeffreys, whose ball carrying was a thorn in the opposition's side all game.

Ian Jeffreys

Star Player

Ian Jeffreys

Key moments

24:00
Penalty Phil Dawes kicks a penalty for Wallingford
31:00
Penalty Phil Dawes kicks a penalty for Wallingford
37:00
Try Max Suttner scores for Wallingford
37:51
Conversion Phil Dawes kicks a conversion for Wallingford
51:00
Conversion Phil Dawes kicks a conversion for Wallingford
51:00
Try Harry Lewis scores for Wallingford
62:00
Try Jack Edwards scores for Wallingford

Highlights

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80:00 Star Player
Ian Jeffreys is awarded star player for Wallingford
74:00 Sub On
Edward Searle is substituted on for Wallingford
68:00 Sub Off
Phil Dawes is substituted off for Wallingford
68:00 Sub On
Matt Fearn is substituted on for Wallingford
62:00 Try 0 - 25
Jack Edwards scores for Wallingford
60:00 Sub On
Leon Bowd is substituted on for Wallingford
60:00 Sub Off
Jack Thurston is substituted off for Wallingford
51:00 Conversion 0 - 15
Phil Dawes kicks a conversion for Wallingford
51:00 Try 0 - 20
Harry Lewis scores for Wallingford
End of period 1
37:51 Conversion 0 - 13
Phil Dawes kicks a conversion for Wallingford
37:00 Try 0 - 11
Max Suttner scores for Wallingford
31:00 Penalty 0 - 6
Phil Dawes kicks a penalty for Wallingford
24:00 Penalty 0 - 3
Phil Dawes kicks a penalty for Wallingford
Start of the game
Replay game

As it happened

  • Gosford All Blacks
  • Wallingford
  • 0
  • Phil Dawes Penalty 24:00'
  • Phil Dawes Penalty 31:00'
  • Max Suttner Try 37:00'
  • Phil Dawes Conversion 37:51'
  • Phil Dawes Conversion 51:00'
  • Harry Lewis Try 51:00'
  • Leon Bowd Sub On 60:00'
  • Jack Thurston Sub Off 60:00'
  • Jack Edwards Try 62:00'
  • Matt Fearn Sub On 68:00'
  • Phil Dawes Sub Off 68:00'
  • Edward Searle Sub On 74:00'

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Team selection

Smith, Ralph Smith, Ralph
Suttner, Max Suttner, Max
Botting, Sam Botting, Sam
Holton, Pete Holton, Pete
Dawes, Phil Dawes, Phil
Swainston, Tom Swainston, Tom
Edwards, Jack Edwards, Jack
Jeffreys, Ian Jeffreys, Ian
Hill, Tom Hill, Tom
Lewis, Harry Lewis, Harry
Murphy, Conner Murphy, Conner
Hayden, John Hayden, John
Thurston, Jack Thurston, Jack
Norris, James Norris, James
Greenway, Jack Greenway, Jack

League round up

Other Southern Counties North results

11
3
Windsor
High Wycombe
12
10

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Standings

# Team Pl Pts
1. Beaconsfield 22 104
2. Windsor 22 90
3. Buckingham 22 88
4. Aylesbury 22 72
5. Thatcham 22 68
6. Wallingford 22 61
7. Reading 22 57

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