U15s too tasty for Teddington

Sunday 16th November 2008

Maidenhead U15 67 v Teddington U15s 5

The coaches saw this match as an ideal opportunity to allow players who have been knocking on the selection door a chance to impress. As a result, almost all the players who won their league last year were rested, and busied themselves with some much-needed breakdown training. The remaining squad featured just two regular A players but was in no mood to go easy on the opposition, with all-important League selection still in the balance in many positions.

The first five minutes saw both sides running the ball to no great effect, with neither managing more than two or three phases before an error intervened. Then Teddington failed to find touch from a penalty in their 22 and Markus Olivier’s catch and run to contact 10 metres out led to a first of three tries on the day for Alex McCulloch, galloping down the right wing. Fraser Brooks slotted the first of his 6 (out of 8 attempted) conversions. It took another 12 minutes for the floodgates to open but, when they did, there was no getting the cat back in the bag. Speedy winger Michael Anderson grabbed a hat trick as well and Laurence McSwan, Markus Olivier, Tyler Bello, Nic Jones and Josh Edney also crossed the line. Olivier was denied a second, chasing a precise Leo Smith cross-kick only by an heroic in-goal challenge by Maids’ own Sam McCarthy, subbing sportingly for the visitors.

Teddington deserved their one try, battering Maids’ line for the last minute of the first half and forcing three quick penalties before putting their right winger free to score in the corner. Unfortunately, they could not maintain that momentum in the second half and while the match was always keenly contested up front, Teddington had no answer to the power of Maids’ open play.

This was by no means an unblemished home performance. For all the brilliant individual running, white line fever was endemic and supporting runners in better positions were often ignored. There were also too many unnecessary penalties given away and still a worrying lack of aggression, technique and precision at the ruck and maul, particularly in the first half. The home forwards continually failed to do the basic jobs of clearing out the opposition and making clean fast ball available for another phase. Some players also still need to learn to bite their lip when provoked by opposition spectators, even (especially) those running the line.

Despite these shortcomings, this was a commanding display by a Maidenhead team determined to make their selectors’ lives difficult.