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U14s' go top after tense local Derby at Windsor Windsor U14s 5 v Maidenhead
U14s 10 |
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"A test of character and temperament, passed with flying colours”. Such was head coach Gareth Andrews-Jones’ verdict on Maidenhead’s U14s’ narrow victory over early league leaders Windsor here today. This squad have always had talent but today they showed the discipline and control they needed to subdue their feisty neighbours and rivals in the shadow of the Castle. It was a beautiful day; bright sunshine and no wind. Close your eyes and you might have been in the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, although much less was at stake on the game there, of course. Here real tension was palpable at the start, parents and supporters on the sidelines unusually quiet and restrained for what many saw as the crunch match of this year’s U14 Berkshire League competition. With due respect to the other sides involved, here were the only two 100% records head to head. Very little restraint was obvious in the opening exchanges on the pitch. The teams went at each other ferociously. The first 7 or 8 minutes saw first Windsor then the visitors try on the inside and the out without ever making much progress. Played on the sort of heavy ground whose mud clings to boots and saps energy, the game swung from one 22 to the other without any telling advantage. Suddenly, however, Maids’ captain Alex Avery emerged from what seemed just another sterile maul to charge over from 10 metres for the opening try. Maids appeared galvanised by the score and had a sustained period of dominance for the next few minutes. The big Windsor pack were on the back foot and Calum O’Flaherty was unlucky to have a perfectly good try disallowed after sustained Maids pressure on the home line as the ref was unsighted but opted not to consult his touch judge. Just when it seemed the match could be wrapped up, Windsor cleared their lines with a couple of good upfield kicks and then won an attacking lineout on Maidenhead’s 10 metre line. Spinning the ball wide paid off and Windsor’s strong running left winger Conor Bray (until last season a lock forward) ran in an equalising score on the wide outside. Windsor finished the first half looking more likely to score but several times kicked away good attacking possession and were unable to put any more points on the board. The second half started in the same nervy way, both sides now guilty of kicking away good ball when other options were available. Maidenhead had the best of the territory however and, after a few minutes camped in the Windsor 22, a 3 phase left-right-left involving just about the whole team put Sam Maguire over in the corner. 10-5 with nearly 20 minutes to go. Would it be enough? Again Windsor came back strongly and there was no let up in tension for the players or the spectators. The last quarter saw Maidenhead defending increasingly desperate attacks by Windsor, with Dominik Bart seemingly always there to stop the latest foray by Danny Pyatt, Windsor’s playmaker No.9. Finally the pressure was relieved by a daring break from the 22 by Leo Smith and Lawrence McSwan - followed by a bit of worldly-wise running down the clock to ensure the victory that takes Maidenhead to the top of the Berkshire table. This was no classic. It was a win or bust game. Maidenhead won. Scorers: |
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