Wallingford 29, Oakmeadians 19

WALLINGFORD had to hang on as they boosted their South West 1 East survival hopes with a bonus-point victory.

Having gone 29-0 ahead early in the second half, this looked like being a comprehensive home win against visibly tiring opponents.

But two Wallingford yellow cards, to match the pair Oakmeadians suffered in the first half, gave the Dorset side real hope.

They hit back with pace and precision before Wallingford finally steadied the ship when back to 15 men.

It looked anything but an exciting game in the first quarter, which Oakmeadians edged. It was more notable for handling errors and penalties than attacking play.

Wallingford lost scrum half Derek Viljoen to a leg injury, which meant Tom Wemyss moved off the wing to replace him and had a useful game.

On 20 minutes, fly half Phil Kelly’s break started Wallingford’s first decent move, which ended with No 8 Ian Jeffreys dummying through for a try, converted by full back Ralph Smith.

A slick line-out move set up try No 2, prop Antony Marris taking Jeffreys’s catch and motoring in hardly challenged, Smith converting.

On 32 minutes, Wemyss got the ball moving and some quick hands set up industrious flanker Pete Holton to race in for a well-worked try.

Holton and openside Marcus Wiltshire proved a very adept pair, with the latter’s tackling committed throughout.

Jeffreys and prop Kris Blaszko created a fourth try for wing Glenn Dearlove, who finished well.

Oakmeadians’ poor half ended with No 8 William Ford and openside Dan Porter being yellow-carded.

Wallingford replacement Henry Venners was held up in stoppage time, but they bagged a fifth try soon after the restart when Jeffreys powered over following a line-out.

Oakmeadians full back Jack Seycher’s flick pass enabled wing James Greasser to run in their first try on 58 minutes, converted by wing Jamie Tryska via a post.

Wallingford’s confidence was ebbing away and the sin-binnings of Jeffreys and lock Mike Turner inside three minutes certainly didn’t help.

On 68 minutes, right wing Tom Morgan cut inside to score, Tryska converting.

The visitors bagged a third try when scrum half Harvey Bell raced over after Ford broke from a scrum.

Wemyss made a key tackle on Morgan as Oakmeadians sniffed a fourth try.

Wallingford: Smith, Wemyss, R Turner, Collett, Dearlove, Kelly, Viljoen (Venners 15), Marris, Hill, Blaszko, Rowberry, Turner, Holton, M Wiltshire (Bailey 72), Jeffreys (capt). Rep not used: P Wiltshire.

Referee: S Flakelar (Oxfordshire).

Man-of-the-match: Holton.