This game was beautifully refereed. It turned out that he was a neutral brought in to take charge of the match. Shame we didn’t have the same at our crucial match with Newbury, but it does beg the question, why can we get a neutral for a friendly, but not for a Berkshire League game?

Have a nice week and look forward to visiting London Welsh next Sunday.

Maidenhead under 13’s came close to pulling off a dramatic comeback victory away at Camberley on Sunday. Having inexplicably found themselves 24-0 in arrears after only a quarter of the match, the Braywick side showed exceptional courage to fight back against all the odds.

The second half rally produced tries from lock forwards Carl Corcoran (2) and Adrian Griffiths, prop James Emmanuel and left wing David Geneen to bring Camberley firmly back in the visitors sights. Fly half Daniel Fair posted a 100% perfect display of place kicking to convert all of the tries giving the home side a real scare at the end.

Maids seemed to take an age to get going in the first half, missing countless tackles and struggling to get any worthwhile possession. When they did have the ball, basic handling errors prevented them from mounting any serious attacking move. Camberley could scarcely believe the ease at which they cut through the Maids defence, and could be forgiven for thinking the match was already over at 24-0. Griffiths restored some respectability by scoring from close range just before half time. Fair converted and the teams changed ends with the Surrey side leading 24-7.

Playing with the strong wind in the second half, Maids began their comeback. First Corcoran forced his way over after good work from Alex Barnett and Harrison Shire, then Emmanuel got his name on the score sheet scoring a try after a fine run from full back Matt Wardle. The Maids front row of Ed Wilding, Neils Pedersen and Kaz Jasnikowski started to penetrate in the tight and Dominic Shepherd was particularly impressive in the lineouts where Maids were dominant.

Once again, slack defence allowed Camberley to add points at this juncture but Corcoran had gone over for his second try and Geneen had shown his opposite number a clean pair of heels to bag a fine try. Fair had not missed a conversion to date and duly obliged to pull Maids within a point at 35-36.

All looked good for the Braywick side as they pushed forward. Simon Standfast and Thurlough O’Connor both produced good runs, while Jamie Plumer and Grant Shearer worked tirelessly in midfield to recycle possession. But, it was a cruel bounce that finally put paid to any hopes of an away win as Camberley broke clear to score the final try of the game, now, against the run of play. The home side had clinched a 43-35 victory.