|
U7As bring home silverware from Newbury Sunday 19th April 2009
|
|||
 |
|||
|
A fantastically spirited performance by Maidenhead U7As saw the team win the Plate competition at the Newbury Festival. The only loss of the day came in the opening game, when a rusty and out of sorts performance, and an 'unconventional' performance by the referee, saw the team slip to a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the eventual tournament winners and nemesis Bracknell A. Despite the scoreline, glimpses of the excellent play to come were evident with Max 'The Rocket' Thomas running in two excellent tries and the 'girl power' duo of Charlotte Burnage and Eleanor Meadows producing some excellent defensive tags. The second game against Petersfield A saw the team come to life and display their usual verve and flair in attack. Pacey running and sidestepping by Owen Mills and Oliver Gunning kept the scoreboard ticking over and further tries by Alex Wood, Sammy March, Cai Andrew and The Rocket saw Maids through to a 7-5 victory. The third game was always going to be tough against a Southend A side that drew with Bracknell A. Yet by now the team was in full flight and determined not to get overrun by a physically bigger team. Fantastic tagging by Louis Rainford, Jack Barker, Eleanor, CAI Andrew and Alex Wood forced a number of turnovers and a brace of tries by Sammy March and another by The Rocket saw the team 3-2 up at half time. The second half showed how much grit and skill the team possess. Sammy twice inadvertently pole axed the big Southend players in last ditch tagging attempts and great handling and awareness saw Owen run in a superb try in the corner. However, with a minute to go Maids were 5-4 down. Then a moment of pure rugby poetry created the try of the day. Great passing from Louis, Alex, Jack and Charlotte put CAI Andrew into space in midfield. We then travelled back in time as he transformed himself into Phil Bennett during the famous 1973 All Blacks vs Barbarians game. Four outrageous sidesteps left the Southend defence floundering on the floor as a deserved equalising try made the final score 5-5. By now the team was brimming with confidence and comfortably saw off Cheltenham As in the Plate semi-final. Oliver Gunning scored a wonderful hat-trick with further scores added by Jack and The Rocket (2). Maids ended up 6-3 winners. The final pitted the team against Topsham As from Devon. From good farming stock Topsham had a number of big strong runners, but Maids impressive passing and support play were too much for the opposition and allowed them to establish a 2-0 halftime lead, thanks to tries from Alex and The Rocket. With fantastic determination Maids kept Topsham from scoring until late in the game. Louis and Jack played their best games of the season and the rest of the team tagged time and again to force turnovers. A late try from 'Twinkle Toes' CAI sealed a 3-1 victory that the team thoroughly deserved and lifting the Plate trophy provided a fitting end to a great season. Group
games Plate
Semi-final Plate
Final Squad: U7Bs
courage in defeat The Bs lost their Medal final 6-4 against Southend Bs. You can learn more from losing than winning but from everyone's point of view it can be difficult to take in when it is by very close margins. They have promised to try and reverse that next season. All the boys tried very hard. Time to focus on supporting the Lions! Squad: A big thank you to parents and coaches for staying the pace of what was a very long day. |
|||
 |