U15s beaten by Newbury

Newbury U15s 85 v Maidenhead U15s 5
9th March 2008

The reigning Berkshire champions were simply too strong for a depleted Maidenhead team. Newbury's rugby was impressive and entertaining to watch - even for the visiting fans. Fast breaks and excellent support play put Maidenhead on the backfoot throughout the game.

With numerous players injured or unavailable, Maidenhead faced a rather different selection challenge to their hosts, whose U15 B squad played on the adjoining pitch at the same time. An improvised rolling injury rotation saw substituted players patched up to later rejoin the battlefront and man the barricades.

It was typical of Maidenhead that despite the odds stacked against them, they never gave up. The boys played their best rugby at the start of the second period, when Thomas Simpson scored wide on the left from a rare flowing move that began with a scrum on the right. Earlier, James Parrott and Michael Habgood linked well and Thomas Simpson almost found space down the wing. Elliot Reid almost latched on to Michael Habgood's pass and James Brooks's kicking pushed Maids into Newbury's half, but the team's attacks failed to make any headway. Newbury were relentlessly good but not without weaknesses as they made one or two unforced errors. However, Maids' tackling wasn't as robust as it needed to be and they didn't capitalise on what possession they had.

Although they were under the cosh for the entire 60 minutes, every player stuck to their task and did their best, for which they deserve much credit. This was the worst-ever defeat inflicted on the team by some considerable margin. A bad day at the office, then, but the team spirit the boys have built up should see them draw strength from such a sobering experience.