U13s walkover Newbury

Newbury U13s 0 Maidenhead U13s 46
Sunday 11th February 2001

There is no sign of an end to the outstanding form of Maidenhead U13s this season and their victory by 46-0 over Newbury in difficult conditions of wind and rain at Newbury was one of their most satisfying, with ball-handling skills of a high order.

However, a good deal of the gloss was taken away from what was supposed to be the latest match in the Berkshire League. Due to illness, Newbury were unable to field a full side and had to concede league points to Maidenhead. Under league rules, however, Maidenhead are given no points difference. Maidenhead take the match points but effectively, the match "score" for the league table is 0-0. Maidenhead had prepared well for the match and were disappointed when it was downgraded.

Nevertheless, Maidenhead took the opportunity to give all their squad a run-out in a 13-a-side game and gained several benefits. Perhaps the outstanding feature was the team's scrummaging and it was here that all five front row players, Patrick McSweeney, Ashley Hanks, Tom Morgan, Mark Williams and Jack Robinson, came through strongly. McSweeney, recently appointed pack leader, confirmed his recent fine form.

In the backs, Chris Richardson at full-back coped well with the long kicks from Newbury and Anthony Lewis, switched to the centre from his more favoured position at fly-half, also played superbly. Scott Lowden made a mark with a long-range try when Maidenhead were playing into the teeth of the wind.

Ryan Christian in the centre opened the scoring with a fine diagonal run and later added another try after a direct crash-ball run. Tom Kay, superb at No 8, scored a hat-trick and also laid on another try for Chris Parrott, who appeared on Kay's shoulder in support. Tom Lewis finished off a fine three-quarter movement for a try down the right wing, Lowden scored his individual try. Alastair Bruce kicked two conversions and Anthony Lewis added another.

The squad was:
Backs - Sam Stefan,  Chris Richardson, Tom Lewis, Elliott Hawkes, Scott Lowden, Ryan Christian, Tom Hocking, Anthony Lewis, Alasdair Bruce, Ollie Styles,
Forwards - Jack Robinson, Mark Williams. Patrick McSweeney, Tom Morgan, Ashley Hanks, Andrew Jones, Tom Plumer, Chris Parrott, Tom Kay, Mitchell Batten, Luke Knowles.