Sunday 26th September 2004

Maids U13s started their 04/05 season with an away fixture against Ealing, last year’s Middlesex champions. As this was a ‘friendly’ it was decided to play 3 20 minute chukkas to rotate squad players. Maidenhead finally ran out 24-22 winners.

Maids lost the toss, Ealing elected to kick and allowing captain Alderson to select to play down the slope in the first period of play. From the kick off, a good catch and drive from Naish set up a platform on the Ealing 10m line. Quick ruck ball enable Harte to release Hudson into space. He took play up to 10m out from the Ealing line. The ball got stuck in the subsequent ruck, but Maids retained possession. Having secured possession at the scrum Alderson darted round the blind side, bounced off one would-be tackler and stepped inside another to register Maids first points of the season. Harte kicked well but the angle distance proved too much on this occasion.

Ealing were obviously stung and came back strongly through their forwards. It soon became obvious that their main tactic was to bash up the middle of the field with their big guns, using some penetrating kicks from their impressive fly half. Unfortunately Maids tackling was found wanting on a couple of occasions, allowing Ealing to break through. But after some stubborn defence, Ealing eventually battered their way through to score a well deserved try. The kick was good, putting them into the lead.

A poor restart put Maids straight back under pressure, but again stubborn defence held out wave on wave of Ealing attacks. Maids eventually broke out through some strong running by S African newcomer Ferrar, who impressed throughout the morning. Unfortunately, the pressure could not be turned into points. Maids allowed themselves to be turned over at the break down allowing Ealing a final attack of the session, which again they rumbled up the pitch resulting in a try. This time the kick was missed, leaving the score at 12-5 to Ealing.

Both teams called the changes for the second period which impacted the fluency of the play, however it was Maidenhead who seized the initiative. The scrum was pitched against a Behemoth set of Ealing forwards, but didn’t yield an inch in the scrums or rucks and mauls, and even secured a steady stream of lineout ball. Alderson and Ferrar were proving a real live-wire combination at the back of the scrum and it was again a blind-side break from Alderson resulting in his second try between the posts, allowing Thompson a straightforward conversion. The whole back line played intelligently in attack and defence, with some strong running from Sugden and Cadogan, and some excellent handling form Goldsmith. Maidenhead’s third try came from a charge by Ferrar, whose neat sidesteps and pace are deceptive. A fourth try came from a blistering break from Alderson, his hat-trick, which was again converted by Thompson.

For the third period of play, the teams were mixed up again, with Ealing fielding a full strength A team to pull the match back. They were clearly a well organised unit, but could not find gaps in the Maidenhead defence. However, Maids were constantly under pressure due to Ealing’s kick and chase tactics, and when it came to defending the fringes of a ruck were found wanting, conceding a try. The conversion was missed. A few minutes later, an almost carbon copy try was conceded, again the conversion was missed. Desperate defence from Maids in the last few minutes of the game ensured no further scores and enabled the U13s to start the 04/05 with a well deserved victory over the Middlesex champs.

Maidenhead squad:

Alderson, Andrews, Boyd, Cadogan, Dowling, Faulkner, Ferrar, Foster, Goldsmith, Harte, Hedouin, Heron, Hudson, Manning, Messing, Miles, Naish, O’Connor, Peach, Roberts, Scott, Sugden, Thomson, Townsend,