Good win for Maidenhead

Saturday 14th November 2009

Before the kick-off it seemed as though the team that best overcame the conditions would run out the winners, but oddly the fact that there was a very strong and gusty wind blowing down the full length of the pitch didn't seem to play much part in the final result.

True, there were some wildly crooked throws into the line-outs and some long passes by both sides going yards in front and behind their intended targets, thanks to the wind, but that didn't really affect the result. In the end Maidenhead ran out worthy winners although it might well have been very different if Tony Rawlings hadn't put in a typical bullocking run to set up a try by Dave White near the posts so making the score 12 all at half time. This meant that Maidenhead turned round all square after a half playing into the teeth of the wind.

The half had started with good pressure by Maidenhead and with the pack playing as a unit and driving well into the breakdown it wasn't long before an excellent drive from a set scrum saw Dave White go over for what was to prove the first of three tries he scored. But before his second try Reading came back strongly when their fly half ran through a number of weak tackles to level the scores at 5 all.

A few minutes later a yellow card for Wouter de Jager and a simple try by Reading under the posts put Maidenhead 12 - 5 down.

Then just before half-time Maidenhead levelled the scores and a very timely score it was too.

Now, with the wind at their backs, Maidenhead were in with a definite chance against a team who were third in the league, but how would they play the conditions?

Strangely, or perhaps it was very smart tactics, they didn't start to use the wind to get field placement until the latter stages of the half.

By then the forwards were getting comfortably on top, winning ball at the breakdown, hunting as a pack, gang tackling and generally not taking a backward step. A penalty by Rob Wilkins put them ahead, and even a yellow card for Paul Kingsley didn't stop their go-forward play.

Then towards the end of the half a foot rush by Lester Martin ended with Dave White's third try and when a drive by Mike Anthony ended just short of the posts Tony Rawlings was able to pick up and dive over. Final score 25 - 12 to Maidenhead. Well deserved it was too!

Man of the Match : Peter Baker