U8s lift Llanera Cup in front of 22000 fans

Sunday 18th March 2007

On Sunday 18^th March, Maidenhead's U8s rugby team joined over 400 children from clubs right across the south of England to compete for the Llanera Cup at London Irish's St Patrick's Day Rugby Festival. The qualifying matches took place in the morning at the beautiful grounds of the Oratory School in Reading, with all the teams battling it out for a place in the final which was to take place at half-time of the London Irish v London Wasps match on the Madejski Stadium pitch later that day.

Maidenhead's A team quickly got into their stride and overwhelmed Wootton Bassett 9 tries to 1 in their first match. Another relatively comfortable win followed against a powerful Reading team, as Maidenhead put on a show of flowing rugby. They then came head to head with a confident Farnham side in a "winners take all" clash, knowing that victory would see them qualify for the final. Brilliant teamwork, uncompromising defensive play and some spectacular long-range tries saw Maids run out 6 - 3 winners. After a short coach ride to the Madejski Stadium and 40 minutes watching their heroes from Wasps and London Irish do battle, Maidenhead were ready to compete in front of a Guinness Premiership record crowd of 22,648 against fellow finalists Medway RFC, who had also emerged from the qualifying unbeaten. Maidenhead suffered no nerves and were always in control of the match, eventually emerging on the right side of a 3-2 score line. Harry Wells, Alex Sutton and Thomas Maclean scored the all-important tries to see Maidenhead lift the Llanera Cup which was presented to them, along with their medals, by some of the London Irish team.

This was the pinnacle so far of a very successful season for Maidenhead's Under 8s A team, which has seen them win 36 of their 42 competitive matches, with 5 draws and just one defeat. Their B team joined in the fun at the St Patrick's Day Rugby festival and put in some very creditable performances in a tough group which included Medway, Oakmedians and Redingensians.

A team: Harry Wells, Thomas Maclean, Alex Sutton, Harry McCaffrey, Gregor Peberdy, Olie McGregor, Saul Payne, Jake Holden and Jake Jenkins.

B team: Athena Peberdy, Mark Hedouin, Taran Uppal, Caidan Venables, James Bedborough-Storesund, Tom Macklin, Duncan Brown and Ben Chippington.