Honours even in a hard fought game against Cobham

Cobham U14s 5 v Maidenhead U14s 7

Sunday 20th February 2005

Maidenhead’s U 14s travelled to Cobham on Sunday for a friendly match. Having suffered some heavy defeats against Cobham in recent seasons, Maids needed to show significant improvement in form, following some indifferent performances in the run up to half-term.

The match was played on the excellent playing surface of the full sized pitch at the American Community School, which gave plenty of opportunities for the backs to demonstrate their ball handling and running skills. However, an icy wind made it uncomfortable for players and spectators alike and led to a stream of handling errors by both teams.

The match was played in 3 sessions, enabling all the players in both squads to have a good run out. Playing with encouraging fire and determination, Maids snatched a 7-5 victory over the first two sessions. Christoph Bart showed all his devastating pace to run in a 75 yard try under the posts in the closing minute, giving Billy Evans the chance to slot the conversion. Cobham came back to win the final session 5-0.

The Maids’ forwards played well against a strong, well drilled pack. Matt Powell and Michael Jones both won good line-out ball and hooker Richard Higgs played well in the loose, as well as winning some early balls against the head in the scrums. In the rucks and mauls, the Maidenhead forwards tended to exert excellent early pressure, only to lose momentum to a Cobham pack which had better technique, allowing too many turns over. No 8, Ed Clark made some customary big tackles, but some of his surging runs were wasted by poor handling. However, Ed’s catch of a high kick ahead, made under pressure and having to face the wrong way, saved a certain try and was the forwards’ "champagne moment."

The Maids’ backs always looked dangerous. Centres Christoph Bart and Aaron Lambert always looked threatening with ball in hand and James Henderson made several explosive breaks, joining the line from full back. The three-quarters were well served by half backs Ellie Moore and Billy Evans, and by James Crichton when he took over the scrum half’s berth. Indeed, had it not been for an epidemic of dropped balls, doubtless caused by frozen fingers, and a fatal tendency to over-elaborate, the Maids’ backs had the fire power to have won the game more convincingly.

So, a big bravo to the U14 squad, with a performance that showed a return to early season form and which can be built on for the remaining league fixtures and the tour to Cork in April. Next week the team have a league fixture against Bracknell.