Abbey U13s 5 v Maidenhead U13s 29
Sunday 20th March 2005

This game was always going to be a toughy: a chance to build on previous good wins and strengthen resolve at the close of the league fixtures part of the season.

Alistair laid down a determined challenge to the squad to prove they could beat a team like Abbey. Results for Abbey this season have been good with some impressive wins over Windsor and Newbury so the squad were told to expect a tough match.

We were not to start slowly as usual, we were to get into the physical side quickly and we were to move the ball quickly. Well from the start to be honest it look dire...Maids were tired looking, lacked commitment and seemed to be falling on old bad habits. Abbey took a quick lead going 5-0 up inside 3 minutes! This looked like lethargy had struck again and heads fell on the sidelines.

Oh ye of little faith... Because Maids came back into it with a characteristic breakaway from the scum by Ben, leading to a dash 30m to the line. 5-5.

There was immense confusion in the lineouts with number frequently causing issue and some hectic dashing in and out and out of the line led to inevitable penalties. But then counting beyond 3 and forwards has never been a rugby tradition!

The second Maids try came from a neat move of 3 phases resulting in the ball moving the entire line twice before being worked across field by Will Cadden who set Patrick up for another try on the right. In getting it down Patrick took a high tackle to boot. 10-5.

Abbey mauled well, rucked and scrummaged effectively and their forwards were strong. But it was Maids, via Louis, who put another try in the bag, which Chris H converted to leave Maids 17-5 up at half time.

The second half proved tough, as Abbey came out strongly after the interval and put Maids under pressure for 17 minutes but were unable to turn the extreme pressure in to any points and a battle royal between the forwards led Abbey to Maids 1 metre line 4 times but just failing each time to get over the try line.

This proved crucial as Maids tool the pressure and responded with a strongly supported breakout try : helped by 11 missed tackles by Abbey, Jamie finally touched down and Chris H converted it to put Maids in a convincing 24-5 lead with only minutes left on the clock.

The final try came after another bout of pressure quickly moved down the line and with Ben running hard Maids walked from the field 29-5 victors... A great win indeed against tough opponents.

It has been a really challenging league season with the squad growing in confidence and skill and the lads can rightly be proud of finishing 3rd overall in the league.

The Maids forwards have come together as a group well, and linked well with some intelligent a backs play and sound kicking from our fly-half - it all seems to come down to confidence on the day. Next season we need to get up on Sunday's raring to go and not wait until the end of the first quarter to wake up.

Wednesday night sessions are important and will always be a part of pulling the squad together cohesively. Roll on the tour to Cardiff!!

One final admin point - we do as you know get a different person each week to get squad shirts washed and sometimes folks can be reluctant but Mr Cameron (our very own balletic ref!) going all the way to Sri Lanka to avoid washing 19 sweaty rugby shirts is taking things to extremes....next thing Paul T's back will be playing up and Dolphins will be evolving from sheep !!!

Final final note - Frank Mannng's Tai Chi classes begin next Sunday all well come bring a woolly hat!