MRFC U17's v Bedford 14/01/01

Maids Under 17's travelled to Bedford on Sunday to play their Under 17 Academy side and looking to achieve the double, having beaten the same side at Braywick earlier in the season. Missing five boys who were at the South West trials, Maids got off to a hesitant start. Bedford were bigger and heavier in the forwards and had the wind at their backs. Maids found their early power difficult to handle and strong tackling was the order of the day with forwards Chris Young and Lee Page heavily involved. Sheer determination saw Maids forwards drive Bedford back again and again, only to have the home side kick the ball over the top.

Christian Pedersen and Chris Cracknell were staunch in this period, refusing to give an inch and Tom Guest was stealing ball around the fringes. Adam O'Reilly stole Bedford's ball on several occasions at the lineout but the visitors struggled to make the most of this possession. Maids nearly got the first score on one of the few occasions they were able to deliver good ball to the backs. Centres Stuart Douglas and Damien Bell punched through the Bedford line to be stopped just short of a score. The resulting penalty saw the ball quickly moved to the opposite wing where Matt Ansell fed winger Ian Lee who was again stopped just short of the tryline. Bedford then maintained a period of sustained forward pressure and after five successive drives got the ball wide to score in the corner. Bedford came forward soon after and won a penalty which they failed to convert to leave them 5-0 ahead at the break. Maids started the second half in determined mood. The backs were getting better service and Bedford's bigger boys were beginning to tire.

Strong running from Ansell and Douglas and good support from forwards Guest and Cracknell saw Maids win a scrum near the Bedford line and scrum half Gareth Edwards went round the blind side to score Maidenhead's opener. Within minutes Maids winger Anthony Lane retrieved a deep kick to set up another flowing move which ended in a penalty deep in Bedford's half. At the ensuing lineout hooker Simon Ball found Cracknell with a perfect throw and whilst still ten feet off the ground the second row lobbed the ball to the onrushing Guest who dragged three defenders over the line to score. Daniel Martin converted to give Maids a 12-5 lead. Maids now had the momentum and their forwards were in control. Strong drives by Rainer and Page were backed up by determined rucking by Christian Pedersen and saw Maids quickly back down the Bedford end. The home side conceded a penalty under pressure.

Martin took the three points to put Maids 15-5 ahead. Backs Douglas, Ansell and Bell then combined to put Maids close to the opposition line and they again conceded a penalty under now relentless pressure. Martin continued his impressive kicking performance to seal the game for Maids at 18-5 although Bedford did sneak a late consolation try for a final score of 18-10 to Maids.