U14s win tough encounter at Chiltern Amersham & Chiltern U14s
12 v Maidenhead U14s 24 |
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| Maidenhead fight for the ball | |||
| Maidenhead
U14s opened their season with a memorable win by 24-12
over Amersham & Chiltern, a team which has been
unbeaten for two seasons and are reigning Bucks
champions. Maids, who were without three key forwards due
to injury and who gave a run to every available squad
member, showed outstanding battling qualities. They were in control of possession and territory for much of the match and could have scored several more tries if they had been sharper with their finishing. However, the fact that 15 backs were given game time meant that disruption was inevitable and it was a credit to no fewer than five half-backs, Ali Bruce, Sam Stefan, Tom Lewis, Chris Adam and Ollie Styles, that Maidenhead's back play was held together. Jack Robinson, Mark Williams and Tom Morgan, the only three front row players available, battled strongly. |
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| Maidenhead defend at Chiltern's scrum | |||
| Last
year's successful teams have been augmented by the
arrival at the club of six new players, all of whom have
impressed in pre-season training. However, the credit for
this victory should also go to the starting line-up for
Maids, comprising chiefly last season's team. Playing up
the hill and against the wind, and against a Chiltern
team showing why they have such a proud record, Maids
gave a battling performance to go into half-time level at
12-12. This was the foundation for the second half
authority. However, there were weaknesses, too. The usual hard-hitting defence was absent for long periods; the play at the breakdown was disappointing and Chiltern were on top in the scrums through a quick-footed tight head and hooker. The support running was also poor. |
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| Maidenhead win a scum | |||
| Maids
took the leading after a powerful burst by the massive
Joe Thomas set up a loose ball and a try for Robinson,
but Chiltern hit back and made a try with the Maids backs
slow to re-align. Tom Kay, arguably Maids' player of the
day, scored the second try after long pressure. Ali
Bruce kicked the goal to make it 12-5 but Chiltern again
came back with a memorable converted try and in truth,
they could easily have been ahead at half-time. Maids missed several scoring chances in the second half but their superiority surfaced with two excellent tries. Chris Adam bulldozed four defenders out of his path to set up a try for Alex Cannon, a powerful new back, and finally Mitchell Batten, a glutton for work, made a long run after a tap penalty and Ryan Christian came up in support to score. Chris Richardson added one conversion. |
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| Waiting for the ball at the lineout | |||
| The
Maidenhead team was: backs - Chris Richardson, Andrew Hogan, Elliott Hawkes, Drew Allen, Ryan Christian, Andrew Foote, Dave Hodgson, Antony Lewis, Chris Adam, Ollie Styles, Sam Stefan, Ali Bruce, Tom Lewis, Tom Hocking, Alex Cannon forwards - Mark Williams, Tom Morgan, Jack Robinson, Tom Plumer, Joe Thomas, Chris Parrott, Andrew Jones, Mitch Batten, Tim Johnson, Tom Kay |
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