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Awesome U17s overcome Grove Grove U17s 14 v Maidenhead U17s 17 |
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Big Pat’s Back! Giant Harlequins Academy prop Pat McSweeney has given Maidenhead U-17s a massive boost by declaring himself fit to join Maids’ push for the BBO Champions League title. He will make his first appearance after recovering from injury, against Chiltern at Maidenhead on Sunday as Maids’ injury list continues to shrink. McSweeney will be contending for a position with props Jack Robinson, Ash Hanks and Ben Tucker, who all shone in Sunday’s win over Grove. Happily, line-out specialist Drew Jones and Wales Exiles squad flanker Mitch Batten will also be fully available. Batten proved his fitness with a wonderful performance against Grove and Jones, who acted as replacement but did not appear, is now fully fit. |
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Maidenhead cemented their position at the top of the BBO Champions League with a superb performance which was considerably more definitive than the final score suggests. Grove, full of power and pace and playing well-organised rugby, were definitely one of the best teams Maids have met of late and made fierce efforts throughout. It was a compelling match in front of a big crowd at Grove. However, a Grove converted score from a breakout in the last minute of normal time unbalanced the final scoreline. Maids dominated all aspects of play in the second half, were encamped deep in Grove territory throughout and came within inches of scoring further tries on four separate occasions, twice losing the ball forward in the final dive for the line. |
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It would be harsh to single out any of the Maids squad though back-row forwards Mitch Batten, Andrew Mitchell and Luke Knowles were remarkably effective, Ash Hanks heroic on the loose-head and scrum-half Olly Styles superb in his play and decision-making. Yet this was truly a team effort; everyone contributed in huge measure, with some heroic defending in the first half when Grove, playing downwind and down the slope, laid siege to the Maidenhead line and attacked in wave after wave. It was here that the game was won. Grove clearly intended to blast Maids when playing downhill but the Maids forwards began in fiery fashion, set up three or four attacking positions then scored a brilliant try with slick handling, with Alex Cannon, who played with great assurance, crossing down the left. |
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Grove then dominated territory and Maids’ famous scramble defence was called upon to save them on many occasions. Grove scored a try they deserved in the middle of the half but Maids refused to yield any more and it was 7-5 to Grove at half-time. Maids were tactically sharp in the second half and Tom Plumer’s mighty pack too control. Grove’s assurance began to diminish and Batten, exploding from a ruck, burst under the posts, with five points for his team and 10 for the judges for the technical merit of his dive. The conversion by David Hodgson made it 12-7 to Maids. Soon after, Maids came again, with relentless forward driving making the space, a glorious long pass from Dayne Ferrar at fly-half finding Ryan Christian and the deadly Christian shot through a gap to score. The conversion failed, as did three other kicks. |
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It was now that Maids should have pulled strongly clear. Cannon, Ferrar and Tucker all elected to pass near the line when they could have been a little selfish and scored themselves and Mitchell, agonisingly, lost the ball as he dived for the line after a strong run down the right wing. Grove’s breakout try was a gem but the match ended with Maids hammering away on the Grove line. |
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Maidenhead's squad
was:
Chris Richardson, Will Grant, Richard Chaytor, Andy Hogan, Ryan Christian, Dayne Ferrar, Dave Hodgson (c), Alex Cannon, Olly Styles, Chris Adam, Jack Robinson, Chris Parrott, Adam Dauncey, Drew Jones, Tom Plumer, Tom Morgan, Ben Tucker, Ashley Hanks, Mitchell Batten, Andrew Mitchell, Luke Knowles |
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