|
U17s come unstuck in the mud at Buckingham Buckingham U17s 18 v Maidenhead U17s 14 |
|||
|
Maids surrendered their unbeaten league record to a Buckingham team, which, on the day, was too powerful and too well drilled for them. Maids fought hard against a better team on a muddy, sticky pitch, which did not suit their style of play, but did not have the firepower to overcome them. However, there was no disgrace in the loss, nor in the manner of the defeat. The Maids’ forwards managed well in the set scrums, but were outplayed in the lines-out and found it difficult to contain a physically bigger and well organised pack in the rucks and mauls. Starved of their normal share of possession, the backs were unable to establish a co-ordinated game plan. More of a problem was the disciplined Buckingham defence, which was always quickly up and gave the Maids’ backs no room to develop any momentum or running angles. All too often, the ball carrier was forced back inside, into the arms of the welcoming Buckingham forwards. However, living off scraps of possession, the Maids backs still ran in two tries, to Buckingham’s three, showing what they might have achieved on a faster pitch and with more possession. Within minutes of the kick-off, Maids killed the ball in front of their posts and gave away a simple penalty. There followed a sustained period of pressure from the Buckingham team and it was greatly to the credit of a determined and heroic Maidenhead defence that they prevented any immediate additional points. On the few occasions that Maids were able to run the ball, they did enough to show that they had an effective rapier behind their stout shield. However the Buckingham fly-half, who was probably the outstanding player on the pitch, orchestrated a continuous flow of attacks on the Maidenhead line, using a variety of options. Almost inevitably, Bucks scored two tries before half time, one through their pack and one the result of a splendid 50 metre three quarter movement. Starting the second half 13-0 down, things looked potentially bad for Maids. However, the pack started to exercise some domination in the set scrums, even winning 3 strikes against the head. The half-backs also pressurised the Bucks’ defence with kicks into space over the defending three quarter line and the green shoots of a possible, albeit unlikely recovery were seen. After a missed penalty, Maids won another almost immediately and elected to run the ball, sending in winger James Kudumaku for a try which scrum half Dean Rogers converted. However, almost from the restart, the Bucks pack drove straight back up the pitch and over for an unconverted try. But the green shoots did start to flourish and Maids became more confident, putting the Bucks pack under pressure in the set pieces and allowing some opportunities for the backs. Eventually centre Mike Skelton was able to release Kudumaku, who ran in a trademark 50 metre try, which Rogers converted. 18-14 and another try would win the game, but time had run out and Buckingham were doubtless relieved to hear the final whistle. It would be difficult to single out a single "man of the match" for Maidenhead. Prop Brinsley Munn was magnificent under enormous pressure, but alongside him in the pack were 3 forwards, Olli Savorani, Jack Penrose and James Clark, all playing in unaccustomed positions, but who never yielded an inch and who gave their all to the team cause. |