U10s off to a flying start

Sunday 5th October 2008

Maidenhead U10s carried on where they left off last season, with good wins against Bracknell and Oxford Harlequins in a triangular fixture.  Having won the Brean Sands Festival back in May, they started the new season with determination and gusto.  However, there were two significant differences to Brean Sands: the weather back in May was glorious sunshine, while today the rain blew in horizontally and was unrelenting; and the 2008/09 season saw the start of contested scrums and line-outs.

Maidenhead As 10 - 5 Bracknell As

The first match was a close encounter with Bracknell As.  Maids took the lead with a scrappy effort, Jake Jenkins pouncing to touch down after Bracknell had fumbled the ball over their own goal line.  Bracknell then fought back and deservedly equalised after some good work from their powerful pack.  And just when the game seemed to be heading towards a draw, Thomas MacLean popped up on the blindside and dived to score right in the corner.

Maidenhead As 15 - 5 Oxford Harlequins As

The second game pitched Maids against Oxford Harlequins who had been strong in previous years, although last season's match had been called off due to snow!  The match acted as a good warm-up for the following week, when the two sides would come up against each other again in the Maidenhead Festival.  Whilst never finding top gear, Maids always had enough and ran out comfortable 15-5 winners, with tries coming from Jake Jenkins (2) and Olie McGregor.

Maidenhead As 15 - 5 Bracknell As

For the final game against Bracknell, Maidenhead shuffled their team a little and brought in some of their less experienced squad members.  However, they remained on top and, if anything were a little more clinical than they had been in the first game against Bracknell.  Harry McCaffrey, Olie McGregor and Jake Jenkins scored the tries, and Maids were well worth their 15 - 5 victory.