Wallingford 14, Olney 36

WALLINGFORD could take some encouragement from this heavy home defeat in South West 1 East.

High-flying Olney were good value for their five-try victory, but they were at least made to work hard in the tight phases where Wallingford’s line-out and scrum impressed.

The difference was Olney’s precision in moving the ball quickly and simply and also missing far fewer tackles.

Wing Ralph Smith was prominent early on for Wallingford, but it was his opposite number Cameron McLean who got Olney going.

Wallingford had prop Kris Blaszko sin-binned as they were pushed back in defence, then, on 15 minutes, Olney captain James Hawken found McLean with a long pass.

McLean showed great acceleration and a spectacular finish to open the scoring, Hawken converting.

Wallingford did not help themselves by conceding a series of penalties and the pacy McLean punished them on 22 minutes by scampering round and under the posts for Hawken to convert.

Wallingford then had their best period and probably deserved more than one try.

Lock Mike Turner and flanker Marcus Wiltshire had good drives at the line, while fly half Oli Henderson scuffed a drop goal attempt well wide.

Captain Ian Jeffreys was held up after taking a quick free-kick and then needed treatment in the blood bin.

This saw hooker Matt Chapman temporarily move to No 8 and score a pushover try.

Henderson’s conversion made it 12-7 and Wallingford were right back in it.

Hawken slotted a penalty straight after half-time, while Henderson missed a very makeable one himself.

Wallingford’s pack continued to hold sway, but some soft tackling let Hawken in for Olney’s third try on 52 minutes, which he converted.

The hosts enjoyed more territory without creating much through their backs.

At the other end, flanker John Robinson powered over from close range, with Hawken converting for 29-7.

Wallingford’s frustration came to a head when Jeffreys was sin-binned for dissent on 70 minutes.

However, his side bagged their second try when Blaszko popped through a gap to canter over after picking a good line.

Henderson convered, but in stoppage time, Olney fly half Mark Marwood capitalised on more soft tackling to score, Hawken converting.

Wallingford: Venners, Smith, Kelly, Collett, Farmer (C Jenkins 70), Henderson, Dearlove, Blaszko, Ma Chapman (Marris 76), P Lewis, D Jenkins (Rowberry 72), M Turner, Wiltshire, Mi Chapman (Marris [blood] 49-52), Jeffreys (capt) (Marris [blood] 36-40).

Referee: J Chapman (Hertfordshire).

Wallingford man-of-the-match: Jeffreys.