U13s kick off season at Teddington

9th September 2007

Match Report for Maidenhead U13s Vs Teddington U13s

1^st Match- A Team

Maidenhead under 13s kicked off their season with a tough away fixture against London side Teddington. Moving up to the under 13 age group means a move from mini rugby to juniors and mini pitches to full size. It was difficult to predict how the boys would adjust to the new rules, but 10 seconds into the game gave a good indication. From the Maidenhead kick off, the Teddington second row caught the ball only to be smashed backwards by the rampaging Maids captain, Matt Balmer, in his new position of open-side flanker. Teddington remained in possession for the next few phases until turned over by the Maidenhead pack. The ball was whipped out of the ruck to Colin Kerins who scorched round the Teddington defence to run in from 40 yards and then converted. Teddington then got their hands on the ball a bit more and tried to test the Maids backs, but could not penetrate the well organised rush defence. It was from defence that Maidenhead scored the next try. The Teddington wing spilled the ball just outside the Maidenhead 22 into the hands of the lurking Colin Kerins who was simply too quick for the Teddington defence and scored and then converted his second try.

From the restart, Balmer caught and then bulldozed through 3 defenders, the pack supported well and quickly recycled the ball, which scrum half Kieran Egan swiftly passed out to his backs and Kerins finished off to secure his hat trick after just 10 minutes. The forwards were very nearly rewarded for their hard graft soon after when number 8, Marcus Bateson picked up from the back of a ruck and went through 2 defenders before offloading to Balmer who was stopped only after making another 10 yards. Sadly, the ball was turned over and Teddington launched their first real attack of the game. The left winger looked destined to score and surely would have done if it had not been for the superb cover tackle by full back George Chetwood.

Maids very nearly had a fourth try through Emiliano Repetto, who was bundled into touch inches from the line after running half the length of the pitch. The Maidenhead pack was starting to really dominate now and had some fantastic pick and go phases which led to Repetto scoring a deserved try which fly-half Jonny Garius duly converted to make the final score 28-0.

2^nd Match- B Team

With lots of players missing and some borrowed from Teddington, this was always going to be an uphill struggle. The Teddington backs contained a lot of pace and playing on a full sized pitch really made it difficult for the Maidenhead backs to keep up. Despite the difference in pace, Maidenhead put in a sterling effort, and came away with plenty of positives. The two centres, Joe Avis and Jack Pettigrew combined well and seldom let anyone through their channel. Number 8, Matthew Martin got around the pitch well and made himself a nuisance at the breakdown to the Teddington pack and Will Brockwell played well in a difficult match at fly-half. The final score of 38-0 to Teddington didn't really reflect the competitiveness of the game, but nearly all of the Teddington tries came simply from having too much pace for Maidenhead to cope with.

3^rd Match- Mixed

The final game saw an experimental 15 with players trying out new positions, but the outcome was similar to that of the first game.

After only 3 minutes, the outstanding player of the second game, Jack Pettigrew looked in for his first of the season after what looked to be a flat pass from Balmer was brought back for a forward pass by former pro wrestler and now referee Paul"The Rock" Buttons.

Two minutes later, Maidenhead got their just reward when Kerins handed off his man and then got away to score the first try of the game, adding the conversion shortly after. It wasn't long until the next one either. Maids were awarded a scrummage after a Teddington knock-on, and thanks to the solid, robust platform of the front 3; George Dutton, Andrew McGregor and Cameron Avery, the backs were able to pull off a stunning set piece move which ended with Colin Kerins aka Superman running through the middle of the Teddington defence to score his second of the game and 5^th of the day. Superb Maidenhead defence especially from McGregor and the impressive Cam Foster kept the opposition frustrated. Good link up play between Avery and Garius put Maids 5 metres out before Martin Harris crashed over under the posts to leave Garius with an easy conversion which he succeeded with making it 21-0.

In the last play of the game, a lapse in concentration meant the Teddington back line cut through the sturdy Maids defence for the first time scoring a late consolation try, making the final score 21-5 to Maidenhead. A fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting season for this talented side. Look out Windsor and Newbury, Maidenhead have Superman, you better find some Kryptonite.

By Myke Parrot