MRFC U15's v Staines 24/10/99

WITH some of their missing players back, Maidenhead under 15s won a hard fought game against Staines 31-5 at the weekend.
Maids started well and Alex Greer scored after five minutes when Maids' backs were well up in defence and forced Staines to stop the ball 15 metres from their line, which Greer picked up and forced his way over the tryline.
James MacDonald converted for the extra two points.
Staines had some strong running three-quarters but some good tackling by William Cowden and Daryl Brady kept them out of the danger area.
Following a scrum in Maids' 22 MacDonald cleared well and took play up to the halfway line. James Appleton won the ball for Maids at the lineout and when the Maids' backs were stopped 15 metres from Staines' line, Appleton won the ball and fed Greer who scored his second try, which was again converted by MacDonald.
Despite going 14-0 down after 10 minutes, Staines fought back well and their strong centre nearly scored but was well tackled by Cowden and a battling Dan Evans.
Under pressure Maidenhead gave away a penalty and the Staines centre ran through some poor tackling to score near the posts for a half-time score of 14-5.

Early in the second half Stuart Smithies and Cowden combined well to carry the ball into Staines' half.
With Gareth Turner releasing the backs quickly the ball was moved to Greer who scored in the corner for his third try.
Maids' fourth try followed soon afterwards when the forwards won quick ruck ball and when Brady was closed down, he put through a grubber kick which was kicked on by Alexander Kent, now on at full-back, who won the chase to score in the corner for 24-5.
Staines came back well and only good tackling by Sam Hocking and Cowden kept them out.
Maids' final score came when they moved the ball from deep inside their own half and Kent, coming into the line, made good ground before being stopped with a good tackle.
Appleton and Jono Weatherly won the ball from which MacDonald put up a high kick and Dan Evans showed good pace and strength to score wide on the right. The try was converted by MacDonald.

Maidenhead U15s 31 v Staines U15s 5