High Wycombe ran out convincing winners in Oxfordshire on Saturday, beating Gosford All Blacks 29-16.

The game started evenly with both teams securing possession, butt Gosford took the lead with a try from their fly-half to make it 5-0.
Gosford looked to step it up but they made a mistake and Joe Openshaw scored the try to put Wycombe level.

A wayward pass went to ground and was snaffled by number eight Charlie Edwards, although he had half the length of the pitch and the Gosford backs chasing him he showed tremendous pace to outstrip the covering defenders and score under the posts, with the kick made by Openshaw for a 12-5 lead although Gosford pulled a penalty back before the break to make it 12-8.

At the start of the second half, Wycombe were pegged back and Gosford scored another penalty to make it a nervy 12-11. 

However, with an overlap on the right hand side the was ball moved out to the backs but another wayward pass went to ground and centre Harry Tanner scooped up the ball ten metres from his own line. With the full back in the attacking line Tanner had the length of the pitch at his mercy to score a converted try to make it 19-11 before a quickfire penalty put the visitors 22-11 ahead. 

Gosford continued to fight hard and took a scrum against the head which presented them with the ball inside the Wycombe twenty-two. 

The away team's defence held firm and managed to hold the ball up in the tackle. As the referee called for the ball to be used, prop Artyon Hooker managed to rip the ball out of the maul and carry it out of his twenty-two, the ball was passed out to Sibu who made a great break into the Gosford half he then cut inside and offloaded the ball to James Outten who scored a great try. With only minutes remaining Wycombe were assured of victory, but to Gosford’s credit they never gave up and attacked the visitors line. 

From a five metre scrum an accurate cross field kick allowed the home team’s winger to score 16-29 and the final whistle sounded. An excellent victory in a must win match.