Wallingford 19, Grove 30

WALLINGFORD can count themselves very unlucky not to have taken anything from this Southern Counties North derby at the Hithercroft.

Grove deserved their victory and their creativity merited tries from Joe Bellinger, Nick Sevier, Owen Gustafson and Guy Nicholl, but the hosts battled well throughout.

Wallingford were twice held up in the final ten minutes as they pushed for a fourth try that would have yielded them two bonus points and they can take much from their display.

Grove had the edge up front in the early exchanges and took the lead on five minutes.

Wing Harry Carr did well to keep the ball in play and No 8 Bellinger pounced to score.

The hosts got a major lift on 13 minutes when a swift counter attack saw the ball reach wing Dan Sadler.

He showed great pace and determination to chase his kick through to the Grove line where he was illegally held back by flanker Nicholl.

This prompted referee Robert Hunter to award a penalty try, which fly half Ralph Smith converted.

On 19 minutes, Grove centre Dave Maryon’s slick pass allowed full back Nick Sevier to finish strongly.

Fly half Roger Sevier converted and it took a superb tackle from Wallingford captain Pete Holton to stop Grove flanker Matt Young giving scoring pass for No 3.

No 8 Ian Jeffreys was emerging as Wallingford’s leading forward, both in attack and defence, but he could not stop lively scrum half Gustafson sniping over on 28 minutes.

Roger Sevier converted, but Wallingford raised their game further and great forward pressure created space for Sadler to finish on the right.

The hosts began the second half as they ended the first – on top – and struck inside two minutes of the restart.

More determined forward play saw the ball reach Holton, who powered through two tackles for Smith to convert.

A Roger Sevier penalty sneaked Grove ahead again.

Wallingford prop Antony Marris was sin-binned for pulling Gustafson back into a maul and Grove added another Roger Sevier penalty.

Great work on the floor from Young set up a Grove chance, which was eventually finished by Nicholl after 69 minutes.

Wallingford wing Tom Weymss and flanker James Norris were both ruled held up, but Grove held on despite Maryon being sin-binned.

Wallingford: Brettell, Sadler, Holton (capt), Hunt, Wemyss, Smith (M Dawes 58), P Dawes, Marris, Hill, Welch (Emmett 68), Gillies, Bailey, Best (Hill 53), Norris, Jeffreys.

Grove: N Sevier, Carr, Johnson, D Maryon, Hudson (Harrington 72), R Sevier, Gustafson, Dixey, Needham, Lane, Eckert (capt), Miles, Young, G Nicholl, Bellinger. Reps not used: Walsh, Horrocks.

Referee: R Hunter (Warwickshire).

Man-of-the-match: Gustafson.