Maidenhead U16s 20 v Abbey U16s 10

Abbey started the better of the two teams and their forwards were winning plenty of ball and came close to scoring but were kept out by Maids’ magnificent tackling, which was to play a major part in their victory. Maids’ forwards gradually got into the game and after a series of forward drives involving James Appleton, Nick Kertez and James Haskell, the ball was moved to the backs to allowed Stuart Mackie to score in the corner after 18 minutes. However Abbey continued to win the majority of the lineouts and with Maids under pressure, only a great saving tackle by Alex Rakuskus stopped the visitors from scoring as the score remained 5-0 at the break.

Maids were now playing into a strong wind and got off to a great start when Richard Barber made a tackle in midfield, Maids won the ball and it was moved quickly along the line where Mackie scored his second of the game. Abbey had been league champions for the past two seasons and were not going to give up their title lightly as they quickly hit back with a try in the corner to make it 10-5. Maids did not take long to increase their lead when David Hunston, James McDonald and Daz Brady combined to put Sam Hocking in space who chipped ahead, and won the race for the ball to score a fine try.

However, again Abbey did not give up and they scored their second try after a drive from a lineout to leave the score at a nervy 15-10 for Maids with still 12 minutes left to play. Abbey used the wind to pin Maids down in their own 22 and only great tackles from Will Lowden and Rakuskus stopped them from scoring. Maids gradually worked their way upfield and a good pick up and drive by James Haskell set up Alexander Kent, who made plenty of ground carrying three players with him, and offloaded to David Hurston, who kicked through and made the score 20-10. Abbey tried hard to score again and three times they were over the Maids line, only to be held up by some determined defending. The final whistle blew for the end of an excellent game of rugby, played in a very good spirit between two fine rugby teams, after which Maids were crowned champions for the first time.