U15s host Pingvin from Sweden

9th April 2009

Maidenhead U15s 33 v Pingvin (Sweden) U16s 7

Maidenhead RFC’s U15 squad played hosts to visitors from Trelleborg, Sweden, last week, and even organised an official welcome from the Mayor, who presented a framed set of the Royal Borough’s Armorial Bearings. This was as hospitable as Maids were prepared to be until the after match reception, however, and the squad ran out comfortable winners against a large and spirited visiting side.

Most of the damage was done in the first half, with Tom Eckles opening the scoring with a sprint up the left wing after good handling by the back division. Will Thompson kicked the conversion from under the posts, and then followed this shortly afterwards with a superb second kick to convert a fine try up the right hand side from Markus Olivier.

Sam Balfour scored a brace of trademark Number 8 pick up tries after his own trademark surging runs took him through the opposition and Maids finished the first half 26 points up. A huge raft of replacements had an understandable disruptive impact on the Maids' performance, and Pingvin never wilted, making the second half a much more competitive affair, settled when Markus Olivier ran on to take a beautifully weighted grubber kick from Fraser Brooks before stepping the last defender and scoring under the posts to ensure an easy conversion.

A little Swedish pride was restored with a consolation try to make the final score 33 – 7, but what impressed the Maids' players, coaches and spectators most was the fantastic show of sportsmanship from the visitors, with real warmth and sincerity in post-match congratulations. Hopefully the start of a long relationship between our two clubs!