Gosford caught cold in the late summer heat

Matt “Barns” Watts names a fresh-faced squad featuring 5 1st Team Debutants in this Counties 2 BBO North fixture. The summer recruitment looks strong with 4 being full club debuts (with 3 more in the 2s, and more waiting in the wings). Debuts from Storm Alparaque, Henry Otty, Rhys Andrews in the pack and Tom Rees and Geraldo Pradillo Macias in the backs, Gerardo having joined last season and made an impact in the seconds. High Wycombe came to the game off the back of a strong preseason win over Slough. With 8 survivors from the squad that lost by a 1pt on the 18th February when Wycombe last travelled to The Brake, Gosford entered the game hopeful of bettering that February performance.

Miles Johnson, 1st team captain and 22/23 Coach’s player, led out the squad that also contained 2022/2023 Players’ Player Tim Price and 2022/2023 Stephen Edwards’ Young Player James Groves.

With the new tackle laws playing their part quickly as Wycombe kick off and immediately tackle high – an offence Wycombe will commit a number of times, allowing GAB to kick for territory regularly to their excellent line-out – which didn’t lose a throw all game, neither did they lose a scrum. Wycombe only securing 64% of own lineout ball all day, and 70% of scrum ball.

Clever kicking from Jake Townsend and Miles Johnson in midfield, regularly forcing the Wycombe 15 to turn creates plenty of good GAB pressure, sadly not converted. Wycombe work their way up field and, following a quick line-out after a GAB clearance kick, High Wycombe spin the ball coast-to-coast, to put the other winger over for the opening score of the day on the 11th minute mark. Conversion missed. 0-5

Wycombe camp inside the Gosford 22 with multiple pick-ups from the base of the ruck, Wycombe 9 having lots of time on the ball but unsure where to go, feeds another forward in, another pick, another forward runner. Wycombe 10 is screaming for the ball and hits a miss pass to put the winger on a line break to offload over the try line. Conversion missed. 0-10 18 minutes in.

The next score was very lucky - Gosford kick off, a Wycombe 2nd row leaps to collect and offloads to his 10 who puts his boot through the ball. The ball bounces in a true “rugby ball bounce” and drops into the HW winger despite the large Gosford presence, who scoots under from 40m out to score under the posts. Conversion made 0-17 20 minutes in

Gosford kick into the Wycombe 22, where their spirited winger jumps to keep the ball in play, only to knock it too hard and see the ball roll dead behind is own goal line. 5m Scrum Gosford. The rallying cries of “Storm” from the sideline as the debutant prop Storm Alparaque dominates his opposite number, Scrum reset. Only for the Storm to strike twice to allow the pacy scrum half Tim Price to beat the Wycombe backline for Gosford’s first try of the Game. 5-17, Tim Price hits the conversion 7-17. 28th minute.

Following a 50:22 from captain Miles Johnson, Gosford maintain the ball again as Myles Selvey continues to hit every one of his lineout throws all day. Wycombe conceded another pen and Gosford opt for a shot at goal: Tim Price steps up, midfield, 22m out. Slots it! 10-17 bringing the game back within 7. 35 minutes in.

HW have the last say of the half, a counter ruck, Gosford sustain huge pressure with big hits coming from debutants Alparaque, Otty and Andrews, but Wycombe used the wing again to score out wide. Ending the half 10-22 conversion missed.

Townsend off, Johnson to 10, Malton to 13. And Joe Piggott coming on at half time brought new level of tempo. Turnovers in the ruck and clever kicking from Johnson catching the HW side offside. Dan Hughes takes a quick pen scythes through the HW defence, but ball eventually turned over. GAB's hopes rise when, after a loose ball is collected by Wycombe and thrown wide once more, but not to hand this time but to the floor, debutant inside centre Tom Rees (normally a back row) scoops up and goes 50m only to be called back for an earlier scrum – from which Wycombe feed their winger to go over in the corner. 10-27 conversion missed 51st minute.

Tom Bates barnstorming run bouldering through the HW forwards and Dan Hughes combining well with Tim Price gave Gosford heart before a Wycombe 5m attacking lineout and a rolling maul goes over. 10-32 Conversion missed. Stu Fouracre on for Bates 60th minute

Wycombe hold the ball inside their own 22, HW 10 puts boot to ball again, Gosford recover only for the HW 10 to intercept and throw an offload for HWs 7th try of the day. Conversion secured for the 2nd time. 10-39. 62nd minute

Sam Malton with a 2nd cover tackle and 2nd turnover penalty – part of an all-action day. Elliot Newell comes on for Tom Rees at the 66th minute.

Wycombe turnover the ball in the midfield and within 2 passes hit the winger to score out wide 10-44. 68th minute. Conversion missed.

Gosford have the last say of the game with a lineout maul traveling 20m up field and after a series of Wycombe infringements, Gosford secure line-out ball, set the maul before a loose ball is picked by Wycombe only then for a loose pass again to hit the floor and the dribbling footwork of Dan Hughes to kick the ball with skills more accustomed to the football pitch, drops on the ball to score the final try of the game. Tim Price 100% with the Tee knocks over the final 2.

17-44 FULL TIME
Tim Price 1T 2C 1P
Dan Hughes 1T
Rhys Andrews Debut MOM

Wycombe attack the wings, concede 13 pens to Gosford’s 8.
Gosford Secure 100% of own line out and scrum ball
Wycombe Secure 64% of own line out and 70% of own scrum ball.