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U13Bs secure victory over Basingstoke Maidenhead U13B 20 v Basingstoke
U13B 15 |
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From the whistle, Maidenhead took the game to Basingstoke, applying large amounts of pressure in the form of penetrating runs and solid forward play. The continual pressure was rewarded after 7 minutes when Alex Brown secured the ball from the halfway line and proceeded to scythe his way through the Basingstoke defence to touch down a well executed try. Basingstoke, regrouped and using their superior pack weight gained enough ground to allow their backs to run in an equalising try. The remainder of the half was a battle of the packs, with both teams fighting hard not to give ground to the other. A Maidenhead surge in the latter stages of the half overwhelmed the Basingstoke defence allowing Alex Brown to make another scintillating run to put Maidenhead 10-5 ahead. In the dying minutes of the half, Basingstoke once again rallied and put down an equalising try to tie the score at 10-10. The second half saw the match resume with both sets of forwards battling hard to gain ground. Loose Head Prop Harry Hoxley and second row forwards Michael Corio and James Preston made the lives of the Basingstoke defence especially difficult culminating in Corio taking the ball from the back of a ruck and surging through the Basingstoke defence to put down a well taken try. Basingstoke carried on as they did in the first half and responded immediately with a well worked try to once again level the scores. The physical aspect of the game was starting to tell on the Basingstoke players who looked tired compared to the Maidenhead team who continued to apply pressure. The final break came when Ollie Saunders executed a fine tap and run sequence, which outpaced a tired defence to touch down a well deserved try. Basingstoke tried to make a now customary comeback but tired legs and a solid Maidenhead defence denied them a draw. Try
scorers: Man of the Match - Michael Corio |