U12s entertain Bath and Ealing

Sunday 30th January 2005

Maidenhead, Bath and Ealing squads played an entertaining, high-energy series of matches at Braywick on Sunday. A big thank you from the U12s to the players, coaches and travelling parents of Bath and Ealing for a great morning of rugby.

Sharks

Ealing broadside
Regular visitors Ealing are a technically skilled team and their large pack looked set to dominate. Although they started brightly Maids soon worked their way into the match, winning the lion’s share of possession. Quick hands from Backs Michael Habgood and scrum half Sam Yates saw them sweep forward. Following an excellent counter attack Back Paul Sayers scored what proved to be the only try of the game, making it 7-0 with the conversion.

Hungry for an equaliser, Ealing were even more determined at the start of the second half and mounted wave after wave of attacks. Maids held the ball up on their own line time and again. But Ealing couldn’t make their stronger pack count and if Maids had driven over more convincingly in the rucks they might have extended their lead. Forwards Tristan Cadden, Ben Pritchard, Rory Creffield and James Parrott denied Ealing any respite.

Bath time
Bath arrived with a formidable reputation, but despite easing to a three try lead against Ealing they had let in two late efforts, proving they were vulnerable. Maids needed to expose the chinks in their armour.

Bath turned on the pressure from the whistle, pegging Maids back. The West Country visitors were tactically astute, especially with their kicking and distribution. But again Maids refused to buckle and countered with huge determination. Tom Bunn, drafted in to Backs fitted in well; devastating acceleration on the wing by Oliver Evans forced Bath on to the backfoot.

The free-flowing, tough tackling game swung back and forth. Maids struck first, after a brilliant move from a line-out. Evans was unstoppable, scoring the try of the season in the corner, and Sayers’ conversion put the home side 7.0 up at the break. Parrott put in a Man of the Match performance.

One of Bath best players was dangerously given far too much space and he duly ran through Maids tackles twice to give the visitors a narrow 14-7 advantage. Maids rallied again, refusing to allow Bath to ease up right to the final whistle but they couldn’t find the equaliser

Results
Sharks 7-0 Ealing
Sharks 7-14 Bath

Marlins
In probably the best performances of the season so far, Marlins battled through their fixtures unbeaten with 6 six tries on the scoreboard. The boys knew they would have to play to new levels against such strong opposition.

The team spirit was clearly in evidence against Ealing Bs. Centres Paul Sweeney and George Kirk were strong in the tackles. Owan Haughey and Seb Owen showed great turns of pace. Back Matt Roberts opened the scoring and James Holt converted. Ealing equalised on the stroke on half-time.

Maids re-took the lead early in the second period as Roberts sliced his way unopposed through Ealing’s defence and Holt again planted the ball confidently between posts. Ealing countered as Maids strong pack couldn’t hold their ground, eventually finding a deserved equaliser.

After the confidence-boosting draw against Ealing, the home side tore in to Bath Bs. Never letting Bath settle into their rhythm or get their passing together proved the key.

From a line-out close to Bath’s try line, Forward Elliott Reid caught the delivery, spun and dived over the line. Matt Roberts converted. He then scored and converted to give the Marlins a comfortable 14.0 half-time lead. Forwards Michael James and Matthew Quinn held up play well. Kirk and Hooker Daniel Tydeman were in the thick of the action. Sweeney put in some great try saving tackling.

It was one-way traffic for much of the second half. Alex Jones and Roberts added to the score, with Roberts taking the conversions for a convincing 28.0 win. A great team effort with total commitment from all the players.

Results
Marlins 14-14 Ealing
Marlins 28-0 Bath