U15s triumph over Marlow

Sunday 9th November 2008

Maids U15 Bulls 21 pts, Marlow Bs 7pts
Maids U15 Stags 29pts, Marlow As 0pts

Maidenhead RFC’s U15 squad triumphed over their local rivals at Braywick on Sunday.

The Bulls treated their game against the visitors’ second string as an experimental game, using no less than 28 players with many switches of position as well. Although communication and unit skills were challenging as a result, they ran out comfortable winners by three tries to one. Players to catch the eye included Jacob Sanders, Tim Cronbach and Tyler Bello up front, all immense in both tight and loose forward play, Leo Smith and Fraser Brooks running midfield, and also Greg McHugh and Ross Dingwall, who tackled as though their lives depended on it.

The Stags approached their game with Marlow’s first XV with more singular purpose. The equivalent fixture last year had been an ill-tempered affair marred by controversy. This time, with an excellent and even-handed referee, five tries without reply was by no means a flattering result.

The Maidenhead forwards were always on top in the tight, winning scrum and lineout comprehensively. Charging play in the loose from Fred Reid, Dominik Bart, Sam Balfour, Seb Coric and Mike Trevena just about compensated for play at the breakdown which still needs more work. Time and again the ball was there to be won but ended up slowed down, held up or turned over.

Nonetheless, behind the pack, scrumhalf LD Basson had a storming game, harrying and tackling, bossing the base, passing and kicking precisely. His day was gilded by an outrageous dummy which left two defenders baffled while he slipped between them to score. Duncan Jones was his usual unflashy but reliable self at flyhalf. Centres Laurence McSwan and Markus Olivier ran powerfully and tackled destructively. On the wings speedster Michael Anderson showed clean heels once or twice and Daniel Shipton put in a couple of shuddering tackles. Sam Maguire at fullback was, as always, well positioned, safe under the high ball and dangerous on the run.