Witney 7, Wallingford 0

Jake Thomas proved the match-winner as Witney reached their third Oxfordshire Cup final in five seasons.

The young centre scored the only try on his maiden first-team start as his side dominated the territory.

The game was far more entertaining than the scoreline suggests, but both sides showed the evidence of playing twice in two days.

Commitment was there in abundance, however, and Wallingford deserve credit for conceding only one try in the face of great pressure.

However, in bringing on two replacements they had not named on the team sheet – Matt Dawes and Ryan Hodnett – the visitors could have faced an appeal had they won.

Witney imposed themselves straight from the kick-off, but struggled to capitalise on time spent in the visitors’ 22.

They created the first real chance on 15 minutes when a slick handling move ended with wing Lewis Collins being forced into touch on the left.

Wallingford fielded flanker Will Woodward at scrum half and his defensive efforts were crucial to keeping Witney out.

The visitors finally mounted a decent attack on 24 minutes, but lock Kris Blaszko couldn’t get his speculative pass away to wing Ralph Smith.

Witney fly half Henry Lamb ignored an overlap after No 8 Jez Hicks made good ground.

The breakthrough came on 33 minutes when flanker Carl Campbell’s left-wing break was well-supported and Th-omas applied the finishing touch in the corner.

Full back Ed Mitcham converted superbly.

Trailing just 7-0 at half-time, Wallingford were far from out of it, but were still doing most of the defending.

Thomas and Carl Campbell combined well on the right, but Witney were conceding too many penalties to establish a stranglehold.

Scrum half Gareth Campbell thought he had scored, but he was recalled for a knock-on.

A powerful run from skipper James Lamb gave Witney great field position, but they passed up the chance to kick at goal and then lost a scrum against the head.

Mitcham missed a 64th-minute penalty.

Wallingford moved full back Henry Venners to fly half, but he struggled there, producing one woeful long pass.

Mitcham missed a sitter of a penalty from in front of the posts as stoppage time beckoned, but his side never looked like surrendering their slender lead.

Witney: Mitcham, L Collins, Thomas, J Lamb (capt), Lambourne (Taafe 50), H Lamb, G Campbell, Serle (Burke 45), S Collins (D Godfrey 80), Richens, Rowles, Fowler (Bennett 76), Muller (MacBurnie 57), C Campbell, Hicks.

Wallingford: Venners, Watson (Hodnett 80), Collett, Holton (Webber 72), Smith, Brettell, W Woodward, Marris, Hill, Small, Blaszko, Keable (McKenna 45), White, Chapman (Dawes 41), Jeffreys (capt).

Referee: D Conway (Oxfordshire).

Man-of-the-match: Thomas.