Windsor tamed by Maids again

Sunday 18th January 2009
Berkshire Youth League

Maidenhead U15s 13 v Windsor U15s 5

Windsor were Maidenhead’s closest championship rivals last year and this match between the Royal Borough neighbours was predictably as tense as they come. Cold and windy weather perhaps inevitably made sure it was a low scoring battle of attrition with little expansive running rugby on show.

The match was bracketed by kickable penalties for the home side, one missed and one scored. It was probably testament to the respect held for the visitors that Maids chose to go for the posts in the first minute. Bart’s kick was pushed wide by the vicious gusting wind. The remainder of the first half was mostly played out in the middle third, with neither team seeming able to apply any sustained pressure. However, from an innocuous scrum 30 metres out on the left, Windsor were cute and Maids were sucker-punched. Windsor’s scrumhalf opted to put in from the right hand side of the scrum and his number 8 duly picked up and went left. Maids did not read the play, failed to deal with the break, and saw the visitors go 5 nil ahead. That is how the half ended, although Maidenhead did seem to ground the ball over the line once, only to be penalised for a double movement.

Perhaps stung by the half-time teamtalk, the home side started the second half with fierce commitment and much more tempo. Only a last-ditch tackle prevented Bart from finishing a sweeping move to the right straight from the kickoff. Ball won from the ensuing lineout was crashed up the centre until two quick passes from a ruck set Fred Reid against two defenders on the right wing. Through them he went to make it 5-5.

Maybe shaken by the increased intensity, the Windsor kickoff went straight into touch and Maids began to dominate possession and territory. With 10 minutes to play, LD Basson charged down a Windsor clearance kick and the resulting 5 metre scrum allowed Sam Balfour a regulation number 8 pickup score on the right, (assuming regulation includes brushing through four defenders).

Windsor didn't give up but could never put three phases together without an error and Maids took advantage of the now favourable wind to clear downfield whenever they could. Then Maguire stroked over a last minute penalty and stretched the lead enough to deny Windsor even a losing margin bonus point.

Mike Winter was chosen as man of the match for an all round contribution in attack and defence.

Maids lie third in the Berkshire League table and visit first-placed Redingensians next week.

Squad: Avery (Capt.), O’Flaherty, Trevena, Reid, Coric, Bart, Winter, Balfour, Basson, Duncan Jones, Eckles, McSwan, Olivier, Anderson, Maguire, Kaye, Nic Jones, Hine, Bello, Smith, Thomas, Thompson

Maids U15 Bulls dump Windsor U15B
Maidenhead U15 Bulls 51pts vs. Windsor U15Bs 0pts

Last year this fixture ended early with Steve Carn departing by Air Ambulance and Iain Whiteford receiving a serious shoulder injury after a dump tackle. This year Whiteford got dumped again but proved his full recovery by scoring a try and two conversions in an overwhelming victory. It was 34-0 last time and 51-0 this year. What is the next multiple of 17?

The rout began within 2 minutes, Dan Keir crashing over from short range. Five minutes later Windsor’s blindside flanker was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Whiteford. Tom Allen ran right through the stunned defence from the resulting penalty to make it 10-0 and Whiteford calmly slotted the extras.

Windsor fought back with spirit but their attacking play was ineffectual and their defensive tackling was weak. Each time any of the Maidenhead pack ran with the ball, it seemed to take at least three attempted tackles to halt their progress. Sure enough, locks Cronbach and Allen barged through to score two more tries in the next six minutes of play. Due to the referee being on Scottish time, Tom Allen was able to complete his hat-trick in the 39th minute of the 30 minute first half. It was agreed to play a 20 minute second half.

After the break, the floodgates held firm for the first 6 minutes of that 20. Then they burst. Whiteford converted his own try after an irresistible break from Calum Hull; Surya sped in down the left wing; Khindria snaffled a cruelly bouncing kick ahead to poach 5 points of his own after setting up much of the home side’s attacking; and Sullivan-Paul finished off the 9th try with a flourish.

Squad: Nicol, Whiteford, Edney, Hull, Orchard, Keir, Cronbach, Allen, Evans, Sullivan-Paul, Crosbie, Scolari, Sanders, Hibberdine, Brooks, Khindria, McHugh, Surya, McCarthy, Orwin, Collins, Thomas.