The season has now started and similarly to the 1^st XV first outing, the cobwebs were blown off and the expected initial rustiness was apparent, but thankfully there wasn’t anything out there that looked broken.  In large parts of the game things looked good and as expected in small areas, more polish on the system and better decision making was required.  The scoreboard suggests that nothing that High Wycombe did was able to work, but that isn’t quite right and they made 1871 work hard for some of the scores, holding up the ball over the try line on three occasions, forcing a knock-on over the try line on one occasion, stealing lineout ball and spoiling some scrums, including forcing two early engagements.  Fair play to them for not stopping and going at it to the end.  Ultimately the speed of ball play, high physicality and higher fitness levels told.

The score was opened after 3 minutes by Kavan Fitzpatrick (VC) (5) crossing the whitewash, after sustained 1871 pressure starting from the High Wycombe kick-off, led by Archie Baxter (7) with a storming 50 metre run, skittling some of the High Wycombe players as he went.  Harrison Slater (10) opened his account with the extras.

10 minutes later, Aidan Jones (8) picked up from the scrum and despite having work to do, smashed his way through with speed and power accelerating all the time to score.  Once again Harrison Slater did the honours.  4 minutes later, there was an 1871 lineout from a deft 50-22 kick from Harrison Slater. The lineout was not perfect, however, Tim Hitchcock (1) was the recipient of the throw and he went over from 10 metres out, with at least 3 High Wycombe players hanging off him.  No conversion for this one.  High Wycombe rallied themselves a little bit and started to make it more difficult for 1871 to continue this onslaught, but this cracked 13 minutes later after a lineout from a scrum penalty, which 1871 won and recycled quickly at the breakdown.  TJ Robinson (3) put in a hard carry and similarly to his front row partner, went over from 10 metres out, carrying a couple of the High Wycombe players along for the ride.  Harrison Slater once again slotted the extras.  Just before half time, at 35 minutes, a substitution was made Arran Blackman (21) for Dan Nethercote (11) and having been on the pitch for 1 minute, the ball went out wide stretching the High Wycombe D and into Arran’s arms, he pinned his ears back and flew down the wing escaping the first tackle attempt and outpacing the High Wycombe, cover to score.  Harrison again took the extra points.

Half time

Similarly to the first half 1871 started strongly, as after 5 minutes the ball was kicked ahead by Harrison Slater, chased by Kavan Fitzpatrick and popped inside to Niall Reilly (13) who cut through the gap against the grain and stepping away from contact at he went over to score.  Missed conversion.  13 minutes later, Harrison Slater read the High Wycombe play and intercepted the ball which was on it’s way to the outside channel.  He took it under the posts and converted his own efforts.  The try of the day was made, in a solo effort by Ilan Trowbridge (12), which brought a loud ‘Ahhhh!’ and a warm applause from the spectators.  High Wycombe kicked ahead and it was recovered by Ilan, who cut a very fast, hard and direct line, cutting through High Wycombe players, handing off others, changing his ball carrying hand as he did so, whilst stepping or shrugging off others.  Oh for a recording of that try.  That score brough up the 50-point mark and Harrison Slater’s boot took it past that with the extra points.  Once again, High Wycombe rallied themselves and forced 1871 to work extra hard for anything and despite the clear difference in fitness between teams, from an 1871 perspective, some of the players were lacking a little bit of energy.  However, another try was coming and 13 minutes after the last, TJ Robinson broke away early from a maul, wrong footing High Wycombe players, side-stepping and crashing over others to score.  Harrison Slater sealed the game with the two extra points.

A strong performance, over all from 1 to 21.

…and so it starts…

#BleedGreen!