MRFC U13's v Chobham 28/11/99

Maidenhead under 13’s produced a storming second half performance, scoring four tries, to see off plucky Chobham at Braywick on Sunday. Maids enjoyed plenty of possession early on, but poor positional play and a lack of penetrating moves resulted in the game moving from one stuttering phase to another, most of it stagnating in midfield.

The Braywick side let their opponents off the hook on a number of occasions, making simple errors as they closed in on the try line. It seemed inevitable that both sides would ponder over a 0-0 scoreline at the break, when, Chobham broke after winning a loose ball on half way. The home side still looked capable of snuffing out the danger, but could not match the visitors’ speed in retreat. The try was unconverted and Maids found themselves trailing at the break 5-0.

After a positive team talk and a couple of tactical substitutions, Maids rekindled their best form to take the match by the scruff of the neck. After just two minutes and a superb run from outside centre David Geneen, Maids were awarded a penalty fifteen metres from their opponents line. Scrum half Alex Barnett took a quick tap and with a lightening burst of speed burrowed under the defenders on the line for the equalising score.

With their tails up, the Braywick side started to dominate. Inside centre Michael Rubber bulldozed his way through two tackles to set up a good ruck twenty metres from the line. The second phase ball was quick enough for Barnett to find fly half Daniel Fair and his delayed pass was perfectly timed for prop Grant Shearer to gather in and complete the touch down.

10-5 up and Maids were on the attack again, the forwards were on the rampage. Neils Pedersen was strong in the mauls while, Carl Corcoran and Adrian Griffiths looked particularly impressive gaining valuable yards with surging runs in the loose. Michael Rubber was extremely unlucky not to extend Maids lead, having taken Fair’s pass at speed he broke three tackles on his way to the line, only to drop the ball at the final moment.

However, Maids were not to be denied, and it was the ever busy scrum half Barnett who finally sealed Chobham’s fate, with one of his typical darting runs, wrong footing the defence to dive over. Fair converted to make the score 17-5 before Corcoran completed an excellent all round performance converting his own try to post a 24-5 comeback victory.