Witney 37 - Amersham & Chiltern 11
APR
The visitors travelled to Hailey Road knowing a win may be enough to ensure
Southern Counties North survival next season but Witney were not in a charitable
mood, running in five tries. The defeat of Beaconsfield means that Witney jumped
a place and ended up in fifth place which is not a bad return after a season
where they had lost so many experienced players from last year.
Although the scoreline looks fairly comprehensive, the visitors were one try
away from making a real game of it. They had the wind behind them in the first
half and were pressing Witneys line in the remaining minutes before the
interval. A try at that point could have given them an 8 point cushion and
lifted them for the second half so it was vital that Witney held them out. The
defence which has been pretty good all season did hold out and it probably
killed the match off, assuming Witney could utilise the wind after the break.
Another crucial phase just before halftime involved Chilterns best attack
option, their centre who had cut through the home defence and a two on one
looked inevitable with a probable score the result. Out of nowhere, covering
flanker Carl Campbell thumped the centre down with a great covering tackle. Not
only did it save a try but the Amersham player never recovered from it and
limped off at halftime.
Witney started the match with real purpose and Amersham looked the nervier of
the two sides which was understanding given what was at stake for them. With
skipper Jez Hicks prominent in the lose exchanges, Witney looked the more
threatening and a score came after great work by the forwards. Slick passing saw
Will Worrall and Joe Collins release full back Johnny Wheater who scampered
over, Henry Lamb unlucky with the difficult conversion.
This kick started Amersham though and they came back in fine fashion with their
forwards setting up good field position from a driving maul and then a simple
passing movement seeing them score out wide. An excellent conversion attempt
narrowly missed but the visitors were now up and running. They kicked pretty
well with the wind behind them with one huge punt almost going the length of the
pitch. Any missed touches were punished quite well though and James Monks and
Henry Lamb both had great darts and Louie Collins and Joe Collins both also
making ground and almost scoring through some chip and chase options. Amershams
fly half was kicking well though and slotted two penalties, both given away
through some indiscipline in Witneys ranks. With the scrums in Witneys favour,
the home side gradually edged their way upfield and from a turnover ball in the
Amersham 22, slick hands saw Joe Collins put in space and he glided over for a
try which was a real blow to the visitors hopes. As described earlier, they
rallied well and piled on the pressure in the last five minutes of the half but
Witney were determined and committed in defence and the line was kept in tact.
A rousing teamtalk at the interval saw Witney coming out knowing that the next
try was crucial and despite the lineouts not going so well, Witney were the
better side in most other areas on the pitch.
The back row were in great form with the flanker Worrall and Campbell enjoying
the open spaces and no 8 Jimi Collis playing a strormer in his last match. A
couple of trademark charges scattered defenders in his wake and his dynamic
skills will be missed. Also in his last match was try scorer Joe Collins who
unfortunately had to leave the pitch injured but Ben Rollinson came on and did a
great job in midfield.
The clincher came from full back Johnny Wheater who was missed as he entered the
line and then he showed classy footwork to round his opposite number to score.
Henry Lamb slotted the conversion and then a penalty only minutes later and at
20-11, there didnā€™t seem much hope for the visitors.
Unlike many Witney sides in the past, this outfit did not rest on their laurels
and went for the jugular with the Lambys, Henry and James combining well for the
former to send the latter over and that really was that. Another Henry Lamb
conversion and penalty stretched the score to 30-11 and Amersham were a beaten
side. When your heads have dropped the last thing you want to see heading in
your direction is James Monks in full flight. He got the ball on the hoof and
shrugged off a number of would be tacklers to run in from around 30 metres and
Henry Lambā€™s conversion was the icing on the cake.
The final whistle went and Amersham couldnā€™t really complain that the better
side had won on the day but they more than played their part in a good match to
watch and should do very well next season with that side.
1st XV
Wheater, Collins(L), Collins(J), Lamb(J), Monks, Lamb(H), Campbell(G): Dore,
Copperwheat(A), Serle, Fowler, *Hicks(J), Worrall, Campbell(C), Collis
Repl: Rollinson(J.Collins-35), Richens(Serle-60), Cookson(C.Campbell-70)
VIEW FROM THE TOUCHLINE
A great way to end the season for the boys. Five great tries and everyone
contributing something and giving 110% for their coaches, the badge and their
fellow players. I thought Rikki had a big match and Snaz was his usual excellent
self working tirelessly in defence and posing many questions in attack. The
backs looked pretty slick all match and it was great to see Jimi and Joe both
have strong matches in their last appearances ā€“ they will be missed! My
favourite memory though will come from a watching (injured) Strutty who was less
than impressed with the Chiltern backs and commented ā€œhow they offered nothingā€,
only seconds before they scored their try!
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Prem "A"
Witney 2nds 26 - 24 Oxford Harlequins 2nds
Great win - a try in the last two minutes! ... good work
Full report to follow.
Berks, Bucks & Oxon North 1
Beaconsfield 2nds 10 - 15 Witney 3rds
Superb finish to the season for the 3rds.
Full report to follow.
Berks, Bucks & Oxon North 2
Witney 4ths 28 - 5 Winslow
After defeat earlier in the season, revenge was sweet!
Full report to follow.
Cheltenham 63 - 5 Bletchley
High Wycombe 29 - 17 Reading Abbey
Marlow 17 - 22 Chippenham
Salisbury 21 - 9 Henley Wanderers
Swanage & Wareham 11 - 13 Walcot
Windsor 22 - 15 Tadley
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Chippenham 22 19 1 2 664 242 422 39 0
Salisbury 22 18 0 4 600 333 267 36 0
Swanage & Wareham 22 15 2 5 444 333 111 32 0
Cheltenham 22 15 0 7 768 378 390 30 0
Walcot 22 13 0 9 367 343 24 24 -2
Reading Abbey 22 11 0 11 437 519 -82 22 0
High Wycombe 22 9 0 13 359 433 -74 18 0
Bletchley 22 8 1 13 318 498 -180 17 0
Henley Wanderers 22 7 0 15 373 401 -28 14 0
Marlow 22 7 0 15 303 525 -222 14 0
Windsor 22 4 0 18 289 536 -247 8 0
Tadley 22 4 0 18 362 743 -381 8 0
Aylesbury 12 - 15 Slough
Grove 16 - 22 Swindon
Newbury Stags 0 - 13 Buckingham
Olney 43 - 0 Beaconsfield
Wallingford 28 - 14 Milton Keynes
Witney 37 - 11 Amersham & Chiltern
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Olney 22 18 1 3 591 225 366 37 0
Wallingford 22 18 1 3 514 262 252 37 0
Swindon 22 14 1 7 482 408 74 29 0
Milton Keynes 22 11 2 9 424 322 102 24 0
Witney 22 11 1 10 420 274 146 23 0
Buckingham 22 11 1 10 419 337 82 23 0
Beaconsfield 22 11 0 11 342 394 -52 22 0
Grove 22 10 1 11 351 439 -88 21 0
Slough 22 9 0 13 291 419 -128 18 0
Aylesbury 22 5 0 17 275 386 -111 10 0
Amersham & Chiltern 22 5 0 17 230 622 -392 10 0
Newbury Stags 22 5 0 17 230 481 -251 8 -2
Broadmoor Staff 27 - 15 Oxford
Drifters 39 - 0 Farnham Royal
Gosford All Blacks 0 - 60 Chipping Norton
Phoenix 10 - 19 Bicester
Swindon College 24 - 30 Abingdon
Wheatley 3 - 43 Stow-on-the-Wold
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Chipping Norton 22 21 0 1 1013 129 884 42 0
Bicester 22 19 0 3 745 204 541 38 0
Drifters 22 16 0 6 440 333 107 32 0
Oxford 22 14 1 7 561 290 271 29 0
Stow-on-the-Wold 22 14 1 7 388 260 128 29 0
Phoenix 22 10 0 12 442 453 -11 20 0
Swindon College 22 10 0 12 328 541 -213 20 0
Gosford All Blacks 22 8 0 14 375 646 -271 16 0
Abingdon 22 7 0 15 359 510 -151 14 0
Broadmoor Staff 22 7 1 14 377 565 -188 13 -2
Farnham Royal 22 3 1 18 201 646 -445 3 -4
Wheatley 22 0 2 20 122 774 -652 0 -2
Bletchley II 0 - 45 Redingensians II
Bracknell III 5 - 15 Marlow II
Maidenhead II 70 - 10 Chinnor III
Reading Abbey II 15 - 3 Henley Wanderers II
Windsor II 57 - 10 Buckingham II
Witney II 26 - 24 Oxford Harlequins II
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Redingensians II 22 21 0 1 602 210 392 42 0
Maidenhead II 22 18 0 4 848 268 580 34 -2
Windsor II 22 14 0 8 453 370 83 28 0
Witney II 22 13 1 8 469 434 35 27 0
Marlow II 22 12 0 10 290 317 -27 24 0
Oxford Harlequins II 22 12 0 10 600 451 149 22 -2
Chinnor III 22 11 0 11 456 359 97 20 -2
Buckingham II 22 7 0 15 257 608 -351 14 0
Bracknell III 22 6 1 15 358 609 -251 13 0
Reading Abbey II 22 8 0 14 239 274 -35 6 -10
Henley Wanderers II 22 6 0 16 326 449 -123 6 -6
Bletchley II 22 3 0 19 162 711 -549 2 -4
Amersham & Chiltern II HWO Gosford All Blacks II
Beaconsfield II 10 - 15 Witney III
Chesham 50 - 5 Banbury II
High Wycombe II 12 - 68 Aylesbury Athletic
Milton Keynes II 27 - 17 Aylesbury II
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Milton Keynes II 20 17 1 2 513 138 375 35 0
Amersham & Chiltern II 20 15 1 4 453 244 209 31 0
Banbury II 20 14 0 6 585 327 258 28 0
Aylesbury Athletic 20 12 0 8 580 268 312 24 0
Aylesbury II 20 11 1 8 448 269 179 23 0
High Wycombe II 20 11 0 9 494 402 92 20 -2
Chesham 20 8 0 12 348 430 -82 16 0
Witney III 20 6 3 11 265 470 -205 15 0
Buckingham III 20 6 1 13 309 422 -113 9 -4
Beaconsfield II 20 5 1 14 220 352 -132 9 -2
Gosford All Blacks II 20 1 0 19 145 1038 -893 -2 -4
Aylesbury III 7 - 34 Amersham & Chiltern III
Chipping Norton II 5 - 24 High Wycombe III
Witney IV 28 - 5 Winslow
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Bicester II 16 15 0 1 601 134 467 30 0
High Wycombe III 16 13 0 3 468 188 280 26 0
Milton Keynes III 16 9 0 7 144 296 -152 16 -2
Amersham & Chiltern III 16 10 0 6 369 75 294 10 -10
Chipping Norton II 16 7 0 9 172 265 -93 10 -4
Winslow 16 5 0 11 154 353 -199 10 0
Aylesbury III 16 5 0 11 89 275 -186 8 -2
Witney IV 16 5 0 11 207 397 -190 6 -4
Stow-on-the-Wold III 16 3 0 13 38 259 -221 -2 -8
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