U13s tournament report

Sunday 9th October 2005

Maidenhead RFC U13s played host to a strong line-up of teams from Wales, the West Country and locally, finishing in third place in their junior rugby tournament on Sunday 9 October.

The boys started their campaign brightly against Reading Abbey, with captain Ben Pritchard driving over for the first try from a scrum won after strong running by Michael Habgood and Jasper Vanderwalk. The boys worked hard, switching play between the wings but couldn’t add to the score, partly by failing to convert possession and by giving away too many needless penalties. Good tackling from James Parrott - who later retired with mild concussion - and Thomas Simpson, pegged Abbey back.

But the visitors dominated in the line outs, were quicker to drive over in the rucks and fought their way back into the game with a deserved late try to level the scores at 5.5.

A similarly determined start against eventual tournament winners, Dinas Powys, saw Maids tighten up the line outs and mauls against their opponent’s larger pack. Thomas Simpson and Matt Quinn made excellent try-saving tackles. After finishing level in terms of effort with Dinas in the first period, the Welsh side then showed greater cohesion and ran in two tries in quick succession to sink Maids 10.0. The boys maintained their commitment but had no answer to Dinas’ power and speed.

Next up were tournament regulars Cleve, who as usual played with great skill and commitment. In one of Maids’ better moves, Alex Jones broke clear but had no support around him. Cleve’s rolling mauls were impressive and they were able to sustain territorial advantage. David Walker bravely felled a rampaging Cleve back but it only took a few lapses in concentration and weak defensive play when it mattered allowed Cleve to gain the upper hand and run out 15.0 winners to secure the runners-up slot.

In the final encounter against Marlow, much improved teamwork ensured longer periods of possession. The backs spread the ball well as the boys tried to work the openings rather than run into traffic. Good mauling on Marlow’s five metre line set up Elliot Reid to bundle the ball over for a 5.0 win.

In all their matches, the boys were only marginally off their best, which was the difference between winning and losing against sides of the calibre of Dinas Powys and Cleve.