Maidenhead U17s 53 v Petersfield U17s 7

Following this, Maids took complete control of the match with pressure from forwards and backs taking play to Petersfield at every opportunity. From a lineout on the half way line, No8 Gallina took clean ball, hooker Lambden secured possession to make a splendid drive deep into Petersfield territory. Maids were awarded a scrum on the 5m line, clean ball was fed quickly to the backs with centre Matt Ansell cutting inside to cross under the posts, the try being converted by Murphy. From the restart, Petersfield seemed galvanised into action and drove at Maids gaining substantial ground before being penalised for being offside. Play then moved back into the Petersfield half with Maids eventually receiving a scrum about 5 m out. Quick ball was taken to the blindside by Murphy who linked with flanker Meredith to drive over for the next score.

The restart was cleanly fielded and fed out to centre Ansell who made a darting run through the midfield to gain much ground, before the ball went into touch. Gallina again took clean ball, and the forwards drove on to eventually release second row John Jenkins who barged over for the next score converted by Ansell. The next score was a close repeat with good ball taken from the restart, a strong drive down the centre, followed by a scrum. Quick service from Lambden saw the ball pass through several pairs of hands to reach outside centre Ansell who again carved through the Petersfield defence to touch down for his second try converted by Murphy. This brought the score to 31 – 0 at half time.

After the restart, Petersfield seemed determined to take the game to Maids and exerted much pressure on the Maids defence with some desperate defence by the home side. However, Maids recovered their composure and following a series of forward drives took play right back into the Petersfield half. Eventually, flanker Seb Bishop drove over for the first score of the second half. Quickly after the restart, Maids again took play right back to Petersfield driving on before conceding a scrum. Lambden took a heel against the head, Murphy picked up and darted over for another score, converted by Bishop. Complacency in the Maids ranks allowed the visitors to strike back with a fine try by their very fast wing, which was converted.

From the restart deep into Petersfield territory, Maids forwards and backs combined well to take play to the visitors. Eventually, after the ball had passed through several hands, Austin crossed in the corner. Play was restarted and Maids again took play back to the visitors. A Petersfield infringement conceded a scrum to Maids some 15m out. Murphy put in a splendid reversed pass to Douglas who moved the ball quickly to Austin for the final score of the match under the posts.

Overall, this was a fine flowing game played by a Maids side determined to win. All phases of the game seemed to work well for the home team with forwards and backs combining well to produce some exhilarating and skilful rugby.