Wallingford 12, Olney 17

One bad error cost Wallingford dear as they were edged out in a tight South West 2 East clash.

The hosts kicked the ball straight to Olney’s danger man Rhys Peakman on 60 minutes and watched him break a series of weak tackles to score on the left.

It was fine play by the full back, but this was Olney’s only real chance of the second half.

Two penalties from impressive fly half Jackson Sayce had brought Wallingford level at 9-9 just before that, and they looked to have the momentum with them.

But the home team lacked control throughout, and could not hit back despite dominating the territory with the wind behind them.

Wallingford were without captain Kris Blaszko following a knee injury in training, plus his fellow prop Dave Keable, but second-team regulars Dick Payne and Darren Small filled in well.

They could point to missing several other mainstays, but that would be to detract from their error count and some sterling Olney defence.

Fly half Dave Smith put Olney ahead with a third-minute penalty and doubled their advantage nine minutes later.

Wallingford showed their early intent by turning over a scrum, but their best opportunities came from Sayce’s very accurate kicking.

Lock Mike Turner and centre Pete Holton could not force a try from a tapped penalty, but Sayce slotted one through the posts on 17 minutes.

Some sloppy knock-ons stopped Olney keeping possession, but Smith made no mistake when presented with a 26th-minute penalty from in front of the posts.

Olney wing Will Edwards was recalled for a forward pass from Smith when a try looked on.

But Wallingford would have been happy to trail by six points at the break, especially after having Turner sin-binned.

It could have been better when No 8 Paul Lewis went close from scrum half Derek Viljoen’s sharp break, but they lacked support.

Sayce’s big boot saw him twice kick straight out with the second-half wind in his favour, but his penalties after 45 and 55 minutes brought matters level.

Peakman’ try was a soft one to concede, but Sayce slotted an opportunist drop goal two minutes later.

Although Smith made it 17-12 with his fourth penalty, there was plenty of time left for Wallingford to recover.

Their lack of penetration, however, was highlighted when Sayce went for goal with a penalty from inside his own half.

He didn’t miss by much, but Wallingford’s territory counted for little.

Fumbles from Holton and Sayce didn’t help matters, and Olney had replacement prop Dean Henrickson yellow-carded late on.

But Wallingford lacked the pace or precision to snatch a potentially winning try.

Wallingford: Brettell, Windsor, Collett, Holton, Smith, Sayce, Viljoen (capt), Payne, Hill, Small, McKenna (Thorns 40), M Turner, D Jenkins, Chapman (S Henderson 58-67 [blood]), Lewis.

Referee: I Morris (Staffordshire).

Wallingford man-of-the-match: Sayce.