High Wycombe 2s 10-40 Henley 3s
By David Lewis
With High Wycombe newly promoted this season, it was the first opportunity for the Henley 3rds to test their skills against this opposition. The match was anticipated to be a closely fought contest, with Henley eager to assert themselves against the newly promoted side. Both teams came out with determination, but it was High Wycombe who set the early pace, getting close to Henley’s goal line on several occasions.
However, it was a Henley counterattack which caught Wycombe off-guard through an outstanding break by Will Parton, making his welcome debut for the team, after several years away from rugby. Captain Toby Stevens duly converted the try.
Henley’s success was to be short-lived as they picked up not one but two yellow cards in short succession allowing Wycombe to score an unconverted try in between and leaving Henley with 13 players but leading 7-5.
But it was Parton for Henley who struck again with another break and duly converting his own try. Wycombe, however, were still proving strong opposition and within minutes they scored again a further unconverted try reducing the margin to just 4 points at 10 – 14.
Henley though were clearly gaining the upper hand, and second row Ed Hutchinson was next up for Henley with a lengthy run on the left wing, with Stevens’ conversion taking the score to 21 -10. A welcome first try for Hugo Matthews, making his debut this season, also after several years away from the game, with the kick going wide.
At half time, Henley were comfortably ahead at 26-10, although with a heavy penalty count behind them they needed to be wary of further infringements going into the second half.
Being on their best behaviour rewarded Henley with more control of the game and with promising breaks by both prop forwards, Jim Hadfield, and Ryan Lynch, it showed the confidence that Henley now felt. The half time change at scrum half from Matthews to Tom Longley, also making his debut for the team, added to the persistent attacks from Henley on Wycombe’s line.
The back row pairing of brothers Adam and Ryan Porter brought much attacking play to the contest, and it was Adam who was next to score for Henley, with Stevens’ conversion. As the game headed towards the finish, it was Hutchinson again, from the ruck, who went over the line with Stevens converting the last score of the match.
It was a fine performance by Henley coming out as winners at 40-10. There is a confidence to the team and even with the changes and debut performances, there is a consistently positive attitude that has now been rewarded by being top of their league after four games.
