Windsor U14B flat; Maids U14B sharp

Windsor U14Bs 0 v Maidenhead U14Bs 34
10th February 2008

Each of these clubs have more than 45 boys registered for U14 rugby. These are two genuine B sides, run as squads in their own rights. Maidenhead fielded just one player (as a sub) who had ever started for the A team. Nevertheless they simply blew away their closest neighbours to continue this season’s remarkable run of results. An early finish due to a worrying injury may well have prevented them notching a fourth successive 50 point blitz.

Inevitably it was Simon Crosbie who opened the scoring. Just 2 minutes in he crossed for a simple pick up try. 3 minutes later Dhruv Surya ran around a weak defence on the left wing and sped inside under the posts.

Halfway into the first half came the pick of the scores. Quick scrum ball for Maidenhead at the Windsor 22 with a large openside to the left; Khindria on Carn’s flat pass goes to ground in contact. Crosbie, there first of course, spins a pass to Daniel Shipton at pace and angle; try. Replace the names with Carter, Kelleher, McCaw and Mauger, you get the picture; it was that good.

Just before the break Daniel Shipton scored another beauty, running from deep onto a pass at halfway and just powering through the defence. This lad has pace and strength to spare and has to challenge for an A squad place before the season is out.

Niall Collins scored the fifth and final try of the half, chasing his own chargedown after the blameless Windsor No.10 was served up a hospital pass in his own 22.

Windsor B started the second half with passion and verve and came close to scoring through their big number 14, brought inside to centre in a tactical switch. He was only stopped by an heroic cover tackle by LD Basson. Once Maids had weathered the early storm, however, it was back to business as usual, with Danny Keir notching a well-deserved try after both the forwards and the backs began to reimpose their authority. As well as the dynamic Crosbie, special mention must be made of Tyler Bello and James Deeley in the pack. They were both immense in tight and loose.

The game ended early after an injury to Steve Carn, harshly dump tackled but happily only suffering bad bruising, whilst Iain Whiteford, having a great season to date, looks to be facing a long lay off with a fractured shoulder. We wish them both a speedy recovery.