U10s win the Cleve tournament

23rd April 2006

Maidenhead RFC U10s took part in the Cleve tournament on Sunday 23rd April against teams from Cleve, Clifton, Walcott, Salisbury and Chippenham. Two teams were fielded playing in different pools.

The A team captained by fly half Matthew Price played to the strength of its forwards and a solid defensive line from the backs. In their first game against Clifton A, the defence was tested when Clifton sneaked a try in before half time. Maidenhead replied with determination, releasing prop Simon Graham to drive over the Clifton try line to give a final 1-1 score. Cleve were next to be held to a draw, this time with no tries despite both sides playing fine rugby, with more solid performances from the all the players. Jake Nightingale playing as scrum half took the ball around the scrum blindside and scored from 8m out against Walcott in the third and final pool game. Winger Sam Bishop then ran in fine try which Maidenhead resolutely defended to the end of the game. At the end of the scheduled pool matches Maidenhead were first equal with Cleve on points, leaving the stage set for a deciding match.

In this final game a tight Maidenhead defence wasn't enough to stop Cleve driving a maul over the line to score the first try. After the restart Maidenhead rucked the ball into the Cleve half enabling prop Simon Graham to do what he does best and drive through the Cleve defensive line with support from James O'Connor, Chris Hudson and Patrick Bart. The ball was soon passed down the Maidenhead line to winger Owen Langstone who made it 2-1 at half time. In the second half, sustained pressure by the whole team and effective tackling by Ruth Dow and George Kingsley opened Cleve wide enough to let captain Matthew Price deliver the final try of the match leaving Maidenhead the emphatic winners of the U10 A pool.

Maidenhead's B team , competing in a bigger pool and without substitutes gave a display of team rugby. Captained by fly half Matthew Venning, the B team played well with some good straight running and quick ruck support. They were unlucky to lose against Clifton B by two tries despite some fine mauling from CJNicholl and Matthew Doyle. In the second match, Clifton C team demonstrated the need for first time tackling leaving Maidenhead with it all to do in the next game against Cleve. Harry Kealey led the charge scoring from a maul driven over the Cleve line. Cleve scored but were answered by a fine passing passage of play involving Matthew Cullen, Ashley Lawrence and Charlie Thomas and that gave Matthew Doyle a chance to run through the Cleve defence finishing with the score was at 2 tries each. In the game against Salisbury, Sam Anstiss demonstrated how to put pressure on, probing the Salisbury defence, but was unable to connect with support to finish the attack. In the final game of the U10B pool, Maidenhead played their best game, against a very strong Chippenham side with Charlie Thomas scoring in the second half after the ball had been taken up the field by Daryl Mills. Although not reflected in the final pool table position, Maidenhead played several games very well with good attack and often determined defending.