U14s vs Staines and Drifters

28th October 2007

Despite a number of half-term absences Maidenhead Under 14s fielded two squads on Sunday to travel and take on the first teams at both Drifters and Staines. After a close-fought (sic) draw with Drifters and a defeat to Staines last season, it was time to see how the Maids squad as a whole had developed.

Maidenhead U14s vs Drifters
Almost the entire Maids squad was dwarfed by a very sizeable Drifters side, and in wet conditions, it was clear that Maids needed to play the game on their own terms. The match was played over three periods, and in the first of these Maids simply blew their hosts away. Much of the squad’s recent training has been in fast, committed rucking, and this showed to optimum effect as quick recycling through a series of phases saw Maids move up the pitch for second row Fred Reid to crash over and open the scoring inside 5 minutes.

Three more tries followed, with centre Daniel Andrews-Jones confirming a return to fitness with a devastating turn of speed to split Drifters open for a second try, while Alex Avery and Sam Balfour showed pace from the forwards too to build a convincing lead. Sam Maguire converted all three, including one very impressive kick from wide out. The tries aside, there were noteworthy performances from Gareth Orwin on the wing and Tyler Bello at tight head prop in a great team effort.

Drifters obviously had a good team talk at the interval and showed more resolve in the second period, when they also enjoyed the benefit of a rising breeze. Maids’ mix of A and B squad players showed great commitment and steel in defence, however, and held off even close range drives from the hefty Drifters pack. Captain Alex Avery accentuated Maids resistance with a fine interception try (and equally fine if somewhat showy dive!).

Whilst still clearly on top, Maids clearly felt that they had taken their foot off the throttle, and started the final period with greater intensity, leading to a second try for Daniel Andrews-Jones and a final coup de grace administered by Chris Dow. Sam Maguire added to his total with two more fine conversions, before the game was stopped slightly early at Drifters’ request. All in all, a comprehensive win and a fine performance by the whole squad.

Final Score: Drifters 0 – 45 Maidenhead

The squad:
Edward Kaye, Daniel Keir, Tyler Bello, Jason Bates, Fred Reid, Sam Balfour, Iain Whiteford, Chris Dow, Alex Avery, Stephen Carn, Jonathan Perry, Shiv Khindria, Leo Smith, Sam McCarthy, Daniel Andrews-Jones, Gareth Orwin, Dhruv Surya, Sam Maguire.

Maidenhead U14s Vs Staines
In steady rain and wind Maids’ parents and coaches were treated to an outstanding team effort with every single player in the squad playing for the team and making great contributions. As at Drifters, the forwards completely out-rucked a physical pack with both commitment and technique. Three out of Maids’ four tries came from quick, clean ball from rucks which the backs were able to move cleverly and unselfishly out to the wings to go over.

The first half ended with Maids 5 nil up after a slick forwards and backs combination put George Thomas over near the corner. Before the half time whistle a strong opportunity for Staines was brilliantly defended by Maids from turnover on an attacking Staines 5 metre scrum to clear.

In the second half, against the slope and wind, the whole team dug in to mop up both kicks and runners with eventual Maids pressure leading to another great combination try this time to put Niall Collins over on the left wing. Staines came back strongly to score by the posts and make this a fierce competition and the hosts missed an easy second try by electing to try to break through the middle with a two man overlap on the outside, only to find the move killed by the Maids’ centres’ impressive tackling. Niall Collins’ second try, from more 15 man rugby, came shortly afterwards and a break-away interception from George on the Maids’ 10 meter line saw him run all the way in to seal the match.

This was a great all round team performance, but special mentions go to forwards Josh Edney and Tim Cronback, while “Duracell Bunny” Calum O’Flaherty provided a role model for back row ground coverage. Meanwhile in the backs Fraser Brooks stepped in to play scrum half for the first time ever, Lawrence McSwan was penetrative as ever in the centre, while Simon Crosbie, more at home in the back row, made his debut at full back! Duncan Jones masterminded events from the backs, with fantastic reading of the game and kicking out of hand, particularly given the weather.

Final Score: Staines 7 - 20 Maidenhead

The squad:
Josh Edney, Calum O’Flaherty, Nick Jones, Blake Nicol, Kaya Baxter, Tim Cronback, James Deeley, Bryn Evans, Jamie Balmer, Dominik Bart, Luke Thomas, Fraser Brooks, Duncan Jones, LawrenceMcSwan, Niall Collins, George Thomas, Simon Crosbie.