|
U17s team effort topples Wycombe High
Wycombe U17s 7 v Maidenhead U17s 8 Sunday 13th December 2009 |
|||
|
This was a close affair and an away match that last season Maidenhead might well have lost. The nature of the win showed much character and demonstrated how the squad has grown and developed since the start of last season. Facing second placed Wycombe, Maids showed true grit and determination by weathering some late pressure from the Wycombe forwards to secure a deserved result and move up the league table. What made the win more satisfying was that Maids had a rather depleted squad for this encounter owing to a number of late withdrawals and unavailabilities, but were still able to field a strong line up. Their strength in depth was tested - and the test was passed with flying colours. Missing their regular try scoring speedsters, it was an opportunity for others to step up and show their credentials, which they duly did. This was a true team effort! Maidenhead started well, testing the Wycombe back three by playing sensible territorial rugby whilst running the ball whenever possible. In the first half, Maids' forwards performed solidly in the set piece against a large and weighty Wycombe pack to secure a healthy supply of lineout ball. This allowed Maidenhead to test the Wycombe fielding with some probing tactical kicks. Following the initial exchanges, with the referee playing advantage, fly half Brooks opportunistically dropped a 45 metre drop goal that bounced tantalisingly on the crossbar before deciding to go over for the first points of the match. The reward for some good early work visibly lifted Maids and provided the thought that this might be their day. Wycombe's main threat throughout clearly came around the fringes of scrum, breakdown, with numerous forward drives, but Maidenhead's defensive system held up well with some determined tackling and counter rucking. Frustratingly for Wycombe, Maids' forwards consistently turned over loose ball with prop Conor Murphy, lock Chris Withers and the entire back row continually to the fore. This was further evidence of the breakdown work Maids' have put in on the training pitch over recent weeks. Centres Oli Evans and TJ Hudson selflessly followed up a variation of testing kicks to pincer-tackle Wycombe's receivers to provide a good target for Maidenhead's forwards ensuring the opposition often had to turn and recover. First-up tackles were made across the board - with the mid-field defence looking particularly strong - creating pressure and forcing opposition error. Intimidating winger Morgan Davies made some threatening runs down the right wing, once strongly handing-off his opposing winger to set off another Maids' attack. Full back and skipper Mike Habgood was a constant threat to the Wycombe midfield with some surging runs from full back, before reluctantly giving way to a niggling injury late in the second half. Despite playing the more adventurous rugby throughout, Maids struggled to break through a resolute Wycombe defence, and the set-pieces started to creak a little. The result looked in the balance until the forwards recycled quick ball and the half backs took play wide, allowing pacey late replacement centre Simon Thomas to clinically touch down wide out for an unconverted try, rounding off some enterprising phases of play. Despite some nervous end-of-match jitters that hardly made life easy for themselves, Maidenhead doggedly repelled numerous strong advances from Wycombe's determined forwards. On the final pay of the match Maidenhead turned over yet another loose ball before kicking the ball dead to end a keenly contested match, and earn a win that again moved Maids up the table. Scorers: |