High Wycombe have no answer to promotion chasers

HENLEY 3rds put in a dominant display to defeat neighbours High Wycombe 2nds at Dry Leas last Saturday. Earlier in the season the Buckinghamshire side had presented a strong challenge at their ground.

Promotion is a real prospect for Henley to move up into the league where they had played two seasons ago, prior to Henley 2nds taking their place. With Henley 2nds now looking assured also of promotion, a significant points difference between Henley’s only real challengers, Bracknell 3rds is required and each remaining game counts.

This was a game where a high score would put Henley beyond Bracknell’s reach and so it proved to be. The pattern for most games this season, from the kick off, has been Henley being quick to score, and so it proved to be again with stand-in prop, Ed Hutchinson taking the first points. Ryan Porter, at number eight, was next with fly-half Brad Fox converting taking the score to 12-0.

This was followed by Josh Beech, playing in the second row, claiming three consecutive tries within 19 minutes, two of which, were converted by Fox. High Wycombe were doing their best, but they simply could not contain the flowing passing demonstrated by Henley. A welcome visit to the team saw Henry Brothers make a superb personal break running most of the pitch to score with Fox again converting.

Hutchinson took the final try of the half with Fox’s conversion showing 45-0 at half-time. With such a rout on their hands, one could have forgiven High Wycombe to be looking to call the game early at the allowed time of 60 minutes, but it was not to be.

The second half began much like the first with another second row, Paul Goodall, bagging his try, which without the kick took Henley to 50-0.

High Wycombe clearly wanted to get some points for themselves and at times, Henley nearly conceded but put up a strong defence, particularly by the Henley backs who had yet to score, apart from Fox with the conversions.

However, it was now Henley’s backs turn to participate in this try fest and first up was Jack Davies and the Brothers again, both being converted. This was followed by centre Adam Porter coming off the bench, grabbing a brace of tries for himself and then flanker, Ollie Roullier, finishing the game up with Fox’s conversion as the final whistle blew for full time.