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U13s' comfortable league win over Bracknell 4th March 2007 |
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MAIDS STAGS 41 – 7 BRACKNELL Maidenhead Under 13s secured a comfortable win against Bracknell to go second in the Berkshire league on Sunday. Using the wind to their advantage in the first half Maids took the game to their visitors early on and Number 8 Alex Avery was unstoppable from 10 yards out to open the scoring with Sam Maguire stroking a glorious conversion. Maids returned to the Bracknell half from the kick off and good hands in the backs despite the wet conditions saw Daniel Andrews-Jones outpace the defence to take the score to 12-0. Maids were rucking with real purpose and the next foray into the opposition 22 saw a second try for Alex Avery converted by William Thompson (19-0) before a powerful surge from Sam Balfour added a further try and took Maids into a 24-0 lead. The killer instinct then deserted Maids and a re-energised Bracknell came back into the game with a series of powerful attacks from their large, powerful pack, whose concerted efforts whilst a number of the Maids forwards were following England’s example and hanging around in the back line culminated in 7 points. This was the wake up call Maids needed and a good first half was rounded off by Alex Avery for his hat trick after a penetrating run by Markus Olivier and great support play from Max O’Connor to take the score to 29-7 at the interval. Bracknell used the wind cleverly in the second half to put Maids under pressure but a mixture of resolute, organised and at times desperate defence kept the opposition out and eventually Maids got into the opposition half after strong runs from Hunter Goetz, Chris Dow and Markus Olivier. Stags debutante Nick Jones finished one strong piece of forward play with a touchdown on the line, beautifully converted by Fraser Brooks and Calum O’Flaherty rounded things off with a last try on the final whistle to leave the score line 41-7. Squad: U13 BULLS v GRASSHOPPERS MAIDS BULLS 0 – 38 GRASSHOPPERS Whilst the Stags were entertaining Bracknell in a home league fixture, a rather depleted Bulls squad made their way up the M4 to Isleworth for a fixture against Grasshoppers on a rather soggy and muddy pitch. During pre-match warm-up, Daniel Williams aggravated a back injury and was therefore unable to start the game. The Bulls won the toss and elected to play slightly downhill with a favourable breeze assisting however straight from the kick-off, Grasshoppers attacked from deep and despite the late kick-off time, most of the Stags seemed to be asleep and Grasshoppers fairly easily carved through the defence. Ross Brown turned his knee at this stage and with no substitutes, Grasshoppers kindly offered one of their substitutes. The Bulls quickly returned to Grasshoppers 22m line for some time and despite some valiant efforts, were unable to cross the try line. Then, with turnover ball, Grasshoppers broke free and some good running earned them a try under the posts. Back the Bulls went but alas, despite some strong running by both forwards and backs, were unable to break down the Grasshoppers defence. Grasshoppers soaked up whatever the Bulls threw at them and just before half time, again broke away to score. For the second half, Grasshoppers were camped in the Bulls half and despite some valiant defending, it was only time before Grasshoppers eventually scored totalling 3 tries in the second half. The Bulls lost Niall Collins with an elbow injury and Jonathan Perry with a broken collarbone defending their line. Final score : Grasshoppers 38 Bulls 0 Full credit must be given to ALL the boys with many in the forwards and backs playing out of position - they were up against some big boys and despite a makeshift pack, the forwards scrummaged well winning several strikes against the head and competed well at the lineouts. Squad : |