Late James Driscoll penalty ensures seventh straight Windsor win
Rob Stevens • Published 8 Dec 2011 16:19
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WINDSOR RFC's Southern Counties North title challenge continued on Saturday with a narrow 22-20 win at Wallingford thanks to a dramatic late James Driscoll penalty.
The victory at Wallingford Sports Park is Windsor's seventh consecutive league win with their only defeat coming against current leaders Beaconsfield on the opening day of the season.
Paul Britton's side opened up a 7-0 lead inside two minutes when a driven Simon Evans line-out allowed lock Colin Thomson to score with full-back Driscoll making the conversion.
Wallingford reduced the deficit with a penalty soon after and bagged their first try of the match as a result of good play from a line-out.
Winger Jono Sandilands just reached out to score for the visitors but Wallingford took a 15-12 lead into half-time after a try near the posts.
The hosts further extended their lead after the interval with an unconverted try thanks to a blindside break.
However, Jack Graves offloaded to Driscoll who ran 40 metres (m) to the try line and reduce the arreas to a single point with 10 minutes remaining.
After giving away a late penalty a Wallingford player threw the ball away in protest and the match referee marched them back 10m.
The lack of discipline left Driscoll with a kick 30m out and from a wide position, but he made no mistake in sealing the points.
"We have had a few of those go against us over the years so I was pleased so see that kick go over," a relieved Britton told the Observer.
"We played our best rugby in the last 10 minutes.
"When the pressure was on and we were up against it on our own five- metre line we showed the strength to get into a good scoring position.
"But, the players need a proper dressing down and they will get one in training because they were all well briefed but we were not at our best."
Windsor currently sit fourth with 29 points from eight matches, six behind Beaconsfield, and face a trip to Milton Keynes on Saturday (2:15pm ko).
Looking ahead to the club's final match before the Christmas break Britton continued: "It has been on the radar for us.
"To be fair Wallingford almost got the better of us because we were focusing on the Milton Keynes game.
"Milton Keynes away is a massive game against a top four side but we are going to win it.
"Our away record is seven out of eight and, although I wouldn't say we are going there with complacency, we've got self belief and if we apply ourselves properley we can take the five points."
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