Stow on the Wold 1st XV 41 – 22 High Wycombe 1st XV AN under-strength High Wycombe 1st XV found themselves on the wrong end of a 41-22 defeat at Stow on the World in Southern Counties North.

Wycombe were forced to make 12 changes to the squad which defeated Milton Keynes last time out, through unavailability and injury. 

The Gloucestershire side were 17-0 up midway through the half with Stow's forwards rampant.  After 25 minutes Wycombe were given a boost when the Stow scrum-half was yellow carded for illegal use of the feet at a ruck and from the penalty Wycombe decided to kick to touch.

After several penalties, Wycombe found themselves with a line-out five metres from the Stow line, and although the forwards couldn’t rumble the ball over the line, Matt Wardle dived over in the corner for a 22-5 half-time score.

The start of the second half was marred by a serious injury to the Wycombe winger, which forced a long delay and change of pitch. 

The change of pitch seemed to work in Wycombe’s favour and from a penalty Lewis Davenport was put away and he scored in the corner 22-10. Wycombe were then reduced to 14 men when prop Leo Sykes was yellow carded by the referee.

Stow replied with a score from a rolling maul, but the visitors countered thanks to a great run from Jack Taplin took Wycombe deep into Stow’s half.

From the resulting ruck, Wardle was put away to score in the corner for his second try and Wycombe’s third for 29-15.  Then, a fantastic break from Matt Wardle from deep in his own half and support from Henry Wyse saw Wycombe run the length of the pitch.

The kick through from Wardle was stopped just short of the line by the Stow defence who were penalised for holding on.  Wycombe opted for the scrum and were awarded another penalty.

This time Eddie Roche took a quick tap and scored under the posts with the conversation from Joe Openshaw, But two late tries for Stow enabled them to stretch their lead and take the points. Wycombe lie in fifth place.

Wycombe seconds lost 50-10 at Buckingham and the third were narrowly edged out 29-22 by Didcot II. Wycombe Ladies lost 12-0 at Kilburn Cosmos Ladies.  Wycombe 1st XV's next match is a home game against Thatcham.