The Aylesbury 2’s hosted the 2nd in the league Banbury 2’s on Saturday. This was set to be an important match in deciding who would be promoted this season from the Bucks, Beds and Oxen league 1. Aylesbury were looking to get their season back on track after been defeated in their last match by a much improved Beconsfield.
The day did not begin well. Some Aylesbury players were beset by illness on the day of the game and had no replacements. There was also no sign of an RFU sanctioned referee at the time of kick off. Therefore one of the Banbury players stepped in to umpire the match.
Aylesbury elected to kick with the wind in the first half and tactics included an abundance of kicking for territory. Aylesbury dominated in the opening exchanges and spent 20 minutes with Banbury barely venturing out of their own 22. Aylesbury were consistently better than the lighter Banbury pack but seemed to be plagued with white line fever, never managing to keep the ball long enough to smuggle it over the line. Only once in the first half hour did Aylesbury really look to have a try scoring opportunity. The ball was kept in hand and fed wide from veteran fly half Roberts out to the wing were there was an overlap. However Wilkinson knocked on Symonds pass and Banbury breathed a sigh of relief. Towards the end of the half Banbury recognised that against the strong wind and consistent performance of Aylesbury full back Daniel O’Donnell their kicking game was getting them nowhere. They launched a string of attacks down the left flank and made excellent ground against poor Aylesbury defence. However the switch back inside was none existent and they often ended up been bundled into touch. Here the Aylesbury line out was absolutely faultless. Berwudza and Burgess hooking up time and again to secure the ball.
Aylesbury 2nds slumped to a disappointing 10-14 defeat against a revitalised Beaconsfield side.
Confidence was high at Ostlers field as the second team gathered in the sun. A positive attitude was evident as the new caretaker managers rung the changes and gave a 2nd team the recognition it deserves after such a successful season so far. Aylesbury 2’s record speaks for itself having collected commanding wins in their last five matches. Conceding just 20 points since their defeat to league leaders Milton Keynes. In contrast the Beaconsfield side was on a 4 games losing streak, but they had come determined to put in a strong showing in front of a reasonably large home crowd.
Aylesbury started strongly kicking into the wind. The kick off narrowly missed collection by Daniel Cottingham-Boss. Then followed a 15 minute opening period in which Aylesbury must have wondered if there was even a ball on the pitch. Former Wasps apprentice Scrum half Dave Dickson only getting his hands on the ball long enough to kick it away under strong pressure from the Beaconsfield pack. And Richard Symonds, moving from full back to play at 13 made a trademark mazy run from deep. Aylesbury began to get into the game as the Beaconsfield kicker sliced several penalties and free kicks to touch. They were further let down by some terrible line out throws, a flanker having to step up to cover for their absent hooker. Aylesbury’s line out on the other hand continued with their excellent form in recent games, Bwerudza rarely put a foot wrong despite constant sledging from the Beaconsfield supporters.
Another hard fought win for the 2's against a spirited Chesham team that didn't give up.
The match started with Aylesbury winning the toss and electing to play with the slope and the strong wind during the first half. With these advantages it was no surprise that Aylesbury spent much of the 1st half camped in the Chesham half.
Aylesbury's first try came from a Chesham scrum. Aylesbury had been given good position by fly half Richard Symonds on the Chesham 22. The Chesham lineout was then won, not for the last time Tom White-Jones who had an outstanding game in the lineout. The Aylesbury Pack then took charge, initially driving infield lead by Darren Parker, then taken on by Adam Bown, before being turned over 5 yards short of the Chesham line. From the resulting Chesham Scrum, Aylesbury produced a solid platform, which meant that when the ball popped out at the back of the scrum the Chesham nine failed to secure the ball, allowing the Aylesbury nine, Daniel O'Donnell to pick up and fall over the line. Aylesbury failed to get the conversion 0-5
After two losses pre Christmas, the A’s got a welcome win against their much fancied county neighbours Buckingham at the weekend. Buckingham are riding in 3rd place in the league and would have been confident of leaving with the two points after a comfortable win in the home game in November, but the young home side managed to prevail and gain the two vital points.
Due to illness and injury the Ducks showed many changes from the team that took the field against Swindon, with the Lane brothers, Richard and Tom and Adam Moore returning from university. Apart from veteran 2nd row Andy Blake, the oldest player was 25 and with 11 players at 21 and under it was one of the youngest 1XV in the clubs history that took to the field.
The home side started the stronger and deservedly took the lead with a penalty from Rhodri Webster, the visitors quickly responded with a penalty in front of the posts, to make the score 3-3.
The game was threatening to follow the pattern of the previous encounter with the Ducks dominating up front and Buckingham attempting to run the ball wide at any opportunity, but with the conditions not suited to running rugby and then young home side showing great commitment and domination at the set piece it was always going to be a tight game.
Aylesbury visited old rivals Slough at the weekend determined to build on the recent home win against Swindon. With students Rhodri Webster and Sean English returning to first team action, the Ducks were confident of getting the two points they needed to turnaround a disappointing start to the season.
It took twenty minutes before any points looked like being scored and although the visitors started strongly they didn’t make the use of possession and failed to cross the try line, it was the home side who had the first chance to register points, but with a simple penalty they managed to throw the opportunity away, Webster had a chance almost immediately to break the deadlock, but in windy conditions just came up short.
The game was a scrappy affair with far too many penalties and handling errors, especially by the men from Ostler’s Field, with chances squandered it was the home side who broke the deadlock with a try after some good work by the forwards, the conversion being missed.
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