U10s' mixed fortunes against Bath and Ealing

Sunday 30th January 2005

Maidenhead’s Under 10s' A & B teams "locked horns" with teams from Bath & Ealing last weekend.

First up for the A team were Bath who’d made the long trip along the M4 with two strong teams.

Maids were cautious to begin with as Bath had previously played a tough and evenly matched game with Ealing.

For much of the first half the game was well balanced and Maids scrum half Kieran Egan taking a few early batterings until the Maids forwards began to break down the Bath defence, managing to get the ball out to Matt Balmer on the wing who secured the first try just before half time.

The second half saw Maids take full control of the game. Fly half George Dutton quickly took advantage of the loose ball being created by the forwards to break through to secure another Maids try. Bath found it impossible to contain Maids and were pinned down in their own half for the whole of the second period. Eventually the relentless pressure paid off with a try for Prop Marcus Bateson.

Maids thoroughly deserved their win and the scoreline was a true reflection of the dominance that Maids held over Bath throughout the game.

Maidenhead A 15 – 0 Bath A

Maids second game was against a tough looking Ealing team. Both packs were evenly matched in weight and size and their first clashes were bruising encounters for both teams with injuries occurring to the forwards on both sides. Maids were finding it difficult to retain possession and were making silly errors due to the pressure being applied by Ealing.

In the last play of the first half Ealing successfully pushed back the Maids pack over their own line to secure a try and end the half in the lead.

Maids hadn’t conceded a try for their last four games and were determined to claw back the game and to put Ealing back into their own half.

However, Maids were finding it impossible to get the ball out to their wings where they’re at their most devastating and this restricted their play considerably.

In the end Ealing won the game by one try which was probably a fair result and a frustrating reality check to Maids, who will learn from this game.

Maidenhead A 0 – 5 Ealing A

Maids A team: Oliver Saunders, Cameron Foster, Andrew MacGregor, Kieran Egan, Colin Kerins, George Dutton, Christian Horn, Marcus Bateson, Angus Hickey.

Maids Under 10 B team were also up against Bath in their first game. Bath had a very strong forward pack and used them with devastating effect to score two early tries. Maids took some time to adjust to the Bath pack but doggedly defended to hold off their constant assaults.

In the second half Maids upped their game and were rewarded when Wing Jim Bunn broke loose to secure a try.

Unfortunately this seemed to wake up the Bath pack who came back fighting with a devastating assault on the Maids line, securing two quick tries to secure the game.

Maidenhead B 5 – 20 Bath B

Maids second game of the day was against Ealing B and they were determined to put their earlier defeat quickly behind them.

Maids forwards came out fiercely and literally knocked Ealing off their guard to secure a try immediately for Jim Bunn.

This was followed by tries for new signing William Temple, and Sam Hollow.

Entering the second half Maids were riding high with confidence and playing some great rugby. Further tries were secured by Dylon Cadegon, Pranav Pillai and George Chetwood to give Maids a devastating win of 30 points to 5.

Maidenhead B 30 – 5 Ealing B

Maids B team : Spencer Komen, Ruiari Evans, Dylon Cadegon, Jim Bunn, Josh Rolls, Spencer Bechtel, Sam Hollow, Pranav Pillai, William Temple, George Chetwood, Ciaron Warner.