2nds continue their winning ways
Maidenhead 2nds 43pts vs Bracknell 2nds 10pts

In ideal conditions at Braywick the 2nd XV continued to rack up the points by defeating a strengthened Bracknell XV 43 – 10

Right from the kick off and the resulting scrum the Maidenhead backs demonstrated their array of attacking skills when an accurate pass from Nash to wing Diago, appearing intelligently in mid field, and with equally well timed passes, put fullback Waddle into space and a simple set of passes enabled right wing Seth Munn to cross unopposed. A touch line conversion from Waddle put the icing on a perfect start

Not long later a break and long miss pass by Carter had Munn streaking away down the wing again. Three more tries, all following confident passing and excellent support running, followed by sweetly stuck conversions, had Maidenhead into a 28 – 0 lead

A long, sustained team discussion under the posts by the nervous looking Bracknell side after conceding the fourth try led to a delayed restart. It was obvious that whatever harsh words were spoken had the desired effect. It also resulted in a change of tactics and the large Bracknell pack resorted to keeping the ball away from Maidenhead for long periods of time whilst making ponderous progress up the field. These tactics lead to a typical forward try after a clean take and drive from a lineout

The second half followed much the same vein with Maidenhead looking dangerous every time the ball was moved wide and Bracknell "stuffing the ball up their jumpers" for ever increasing lengths of time. In fairness this tactic paid dividends when a typical rolling maul demonstrating excellent technique and control lead to a try covering a good 45 metres. In the Maidenhead forwards Jones was a tower of strength winning his share of lineout ball and along with James Cox enabling the Maidenhead forwards to match the considerable physical presence of the Bracknell pack

The lighter Maidenhead pack with Piers Morgan, Jakawski and Kent outplaying their opposite backrow were able to produce enough quality ball for the backs to continue to cut swathes through and around Bracknell backs. Morgan was rewarded with a try late on and although an avalanche of tries had been on the cards early on it never really materialised but the 2nd XV continued to show that their brand of rugby is one worth watching. Most people would take a 43 -10 win!

Reported by AC

Solid performance gets 3rds back to winning ways
Maidenhead 3rds 25pts vs Aldermaston 3rds 3pts 

On a beautiful day for rugby Maidenhead turned in a good performance that was based on winning the line-outs and set scrums up-front and scoring well-worked tries from the backs

The first 10 minutes or so didn't really set the pattern as a number of penalties were given away, but then a series of pick and drives by the forwards led by Tony "Scud" Rawlings gave the backs the opportunity through a good break by Tim Robinson to score under the posts. This seemed to settle Maidenhead who started to get on top. However they were brought back to earth by a drop goal from Aldermarston in one on their few forays into the Maidenhead half

Then after working their way down to the Aldermarston 22 good work by the pack helped by Lester Martin led to Mike Anthony barrelling over the line for a converted try making it 14 – 3

A period of Maidenhead pressure then finally paid off. Good tactical kicking by John Sudbury and strong running and passing by the backs led to a simple score by Dave "Teach" Williams in the corner. 19 – 3 to Maidenhead. Another score from a penalty in front of the posts kicked by Peter Bluck saw Maidenhead reach half time 22 – 3 up

The second half saw only one score added when Peter Bluck, who kicked well all afternoon, put a penalty over from in front of the posts. Things then got scrappy and although Maidenhead were well in control with nearly all the play between the 22metre lines the match gradually subsided into a rather shapeless and listless game, until the final whistle brought some relief

Man of the Match : Mike "Barrel" Anthony

U17s Stay in Bed
Maidenhead U17s 0pts vs Marlow U17s 22pts

On paper Maids U17s were by far the superior side, but as we all know......

With Marlow 'up for it' and most of the Maids side looking like they had come straight to the ground from a late night out, they soon went 19 points down.  This might sound like a brief description of what happened but there is not much more to say

Having woken up slightly in the second half, Maids restricted Marlow to a  long range penalty kick to make the final score 22-0 to reward the home side with an away match in the national knock out competition to Penzance and Newlyn

Yes that's right, the Penzanze and Newlyn that is in Cornwall, not far from being the furthest rugby club from Maidenhead in the British Isles

U15s pipped by Farnham
Farnham U15s 17pts vs Maidenhead U15s 5pts

The U15s were unfortunate to come out on the wrong end of a 17.5 scoreline in this friendly fixture. Both sides enjoyed good periods of possession but Farnham made the most of their attacking drives. The hosts had the better of the breaks in the first half and scored an unconverted try early on. Maids looked to be seconds away from scoring themselves when the referee blew for an injury to a Maidenhead player. The home side doubled their advantage with a pushover try. Despite a lot of time spent on the opposition line Maids failed to capitalise on the pressure they applied.

Maids pulled back a try after the restart when Charlie Wickham-Smith broke out of a maul near Farnham's line to score. At 10.5 the second half was an evenly fought contest and the game could have been won or lost by either side. Alex Jones almost got through the defensive line and Elliot Reid went close. Matt Bill at scrum half kept the momentum ticking over. Michael Habgood at full back had a few piercing runs at the opposition and David Walker put in some good tackling.

But there was late frustration for Maidenhead as Farnham pounced on a fortunate interception in the last minute of the match to score under the posts and convert

Maidenhead U14s go top after tense local derby
Windsor U14s 5pts vs Maidenhead U14s 10pts

"A test of character and temperament, passed with flying colours".  Such was head coach Gareth Andrews-Jones' verdict on Maidenhead's U14s' narrow victory over early league leaders Windsor here today.  This squad has always had talent but today they showed the discipline and control they needed to subdue their feisty neighbours and rivals in the shadow of the Castle

It was a beautiful day; bright sunshine and no wind.  Close your eyes and you might have been in the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, although much less was at stake on the game there, of course.  Here real tension was palpable at the start, parents and supporters on the sidelines unusually quiet and restrained for what many saw as the crunch match of this year's U14 Berkshire League competition.  With due respect to the other sides involved, here were the only two 100% records head to head.  Very little restraint was obvious in the opening exchanges on the pitch.  The teams went at each other ferociously.  The first 7 or 8 minutes saw first Windsor then the visitors try on the inside and the out without ever making much progress.  Played on the sort of heavy ground whose mud clings to boots and saps energy, the game swung from one 22 to the other without any telling advantage.  Suddenly, however, Maids' captain Alex Avery emerged from what seemed just another sterile maul to charge over from 10 metres for the opening try.

Maids appeared galvanized by the score and had a sustained period of dominance for the next few minutes.  The big Windsor pack were on the back foot and Calum O'Flaherty was unlucky to have a perfectly good try disallowed after sustained Maids pressure on the home line as the ref was unsighted but opted not to consult his touch judge.  Just when it seemed the match could be wrapped up, Windsor cleared their lines with a couple of good upfield kicks and then won an attacking lineout on Maidenhead's 10 metre line.  Spinning the ball wide paid off and Windsor's strong running left winger Conor Bray (until last season a lock forward) ran in an equalizing score on the wide outside.  Windsor finished the first half looking more likely to score but several times kicked away good attacking possession and were unable to put any more points on the board.

The second half started in the same nervy way, both sides now guilty of kicking away good ball when other options were available.  Maidenhead had the best of the territory however and, after a few minutes camped in the Windsor 22, a 3 phase left-right-left involving just about the whole team put Sam Maguire over in the corner.  10-5 with nearly 20 minutes to go.  Would it be enough?

Again Windsor came back strongly and there was no let up in tension for the players or the spectators.  The last quarter saw Maidenhead defending increasingly desperate attacks by Windsor, with Dominik Bart seemingly always there to stop the latest foray by Danny Pyatt, Windsor's playmaker No.9.  Finally the pressure was relieved by a daring break from the 22 by Leo Smith and Lawrence McSwan - followed by a bit of worldly-wise running down the clock to ensure the victory that takes Maidenhead to the top of the Berkshire table. 

This was no classic.  It was a win or bust game.  Maidenhead won.

MUSIC EVENING
Saturday 16th February
7pm - midnight
at MRFC
EVERYONE WELCOME

Live band 'ASBO' with Paul Trevena, Clive Scott & Pete Bartlett
Plus
Live performances by talented young musicians
Plus
Great Food
£10 adults, £5 children
Tickets from Julie Andrews-Jones on julie@theajs.co.uk

Forthcoming fixtures
Saturday 16th Feb
Maids 1st XV vs Cleve (H) SW1 (2.00 KO)    
Maids 2nd XV vs Bletchley (A) BBO (2.00 KO)    
Maids 3rd XV vs Harwell (H) BBO

Sunday 17th February
Minis - Henley and Bracknell (H)
U13s - London Irish (A)
U13s B - Basingstoke (H)
U14s - Training
U15s - Training
U16s - Old Cats (A)
U17s - Still in bed