Fifth place for High Wycombe

11:01am Tuesday 27th December 2005

RUGBY: High Wycombe welcome in the New Year from the heady heights of fifth place in South West Two East after Saturday's 27-20 win at Keynsham.

Fifth represents Wycs' highest league position for a number of years and is reward for a new-found ability to win atritional matches.

Keynsham were the dominant side during the opening exchanges and one penalty seemed scant reward for their efforts, but Wycs' defence was stubborn and when an opportunity arose Simon Gaster took it with a scintillating burst down the wing. He fed Manuel Werquin to go over with Toby Radford converting. Radford then slotted another kick over the posts and before the interval the visitors increased their lead to 17-3 with prop Peter Dorling ploughing forward 30 yards before feeding David Thornton to go over. Radford again converted.

Keynsham got themselves back into it early in the second period with a try of their own, and spent the next period camped in Wycs' half. Again Wycs' defence held firm though, and Gaster turned defence into attack when he exposed a gap in the Keynsham line to go over and make it 22-8.

Far from home and hosed though, Wycs allowed their hosts back into it and Keynsham took full advantage with two scores in quick succession to reduce the deficit to two points.

But cometh the hour cometh the man and captain Johnny Smith nipped any comeback in the bud with a lightning break through the heart of the Keynsham defence. His chip forward found James Harris Evans who eased the nerves with what would be the game's final score.

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