Outstanding debut by Page
Bletchley 2nd XV 3pts vs Maidenhead 2nd XV 52pts

Aided by an outstanding debut performance by young open side flanker Will Page Maidenhead 2nd XV notched up yet another impressive 50 point victory.

All did not start well for the Maidenhead side, due to traffic problems on the M1 several players didn't arrive until minutes before kick off. However this did not stop the Maids side from starting well with Page taking full advantage of a lack of organisation by the Bletchley pack to claim the ball and make his way to within yards of the Bletchley line. The promising start gave Maidenhead the filed position for the impressive Nash to brush aside his opposite number and with plenty of pace run in the first of his three tries. 

Unfortunately Maids achilles heal managed to surface again, their own inability to deal with a restart, which is somewhat surprising for a team that has scored 672 points this season and has had plenty of practice.  Bletchley snatched the bouncing ball from which they mounted their only real attack of the day.  After repelling a couple of forward drives Bletchley released the ball the backs, the maidenhead backline were caught offside in midfield and Bletchley converted the resulting penalty.

Maidenhead where soon on the attack again and it seemed only a matter of time before they scored their second try.  However it appeared that the Bletchley team were keen to avoid another 90 point defeat as they had earlier in the season and took every opportunity to slow and spoil the Maids ball invariably by foul means.  James MacDonald called their bluff and proceeded to chip over three consecutive penalties in relatively quick succession that gave the Maidenhead side the confidence to mount attacks from well inside their own half.

With Maids young and mobile pack and scrum half Simon Carter's sharp service now starting to provide the Maids backs with the quick ball they needed, MacDonald stood flat and with long miss passes started to send his three quarters through holes in the Bletchley back line, or with the panicking drift defence glide through gaps himself before releasing the ball.

By half time the score board was ticking over nicely and Maids had a comfortable lead.  The second half followed much the same pattern as the first but with the heavy Bletchley pack now wilting in the sun Gull, Barber, Jelski and Page now started to make powerful breaks around the fringes, regularly linking with the backs who were on hand to finish off the move.  Bletchley's only real attempt to stem the flow was to interrupt play with the continuous use of cheap shots, dangerous tackles and reckless use of the boot.  The main recipient of the punishment being the exceptional Page, who's only crime, appeared to be that he was younger and better than any of the Bletchley team.

Maidenhead finished strongly with some excellent long range tries involving both forwards and backs, with the now hapless Bletchley defence chasing their tails as offload followed reverse pass to see Maids 2nd XV cruse to victory.

Maidenhead 2nd XV now have to focus on a difficult away fixture to Bracknell on Sunday in the Berkshire cup, but I'm sure all involved are relishing the opportunity to test themselves against a more capable opposition.

AC

Classy display of running rugby brings Maids big win
Didcot 3rds 5pts vs Maidenhead 3rds 64pts

With almost the first move of the game Maidenhead set up a well controlled ruck, moved the ball along the back line and Chris 'Razza' Richardson cut back inside for a try under the posts. 7 – 0 to Maidenhead. Good start, but was it the shape of things to come? Could this be the team that lost to Didcot 9 – 5 at the end of last season? Well it was virtually the same team in terms of personnel but not in the way they played

Didcot then applied some pressure and worked their way into the Maidenhead 22, but a cute interception by full back Chris 'Razza' Richardson, who ran the length of the field to dot down under the posts, put Maidenhead 14 – 0 up after 10 minutes

But then? Oops! The back row and outside half went walk-about leaving a gap the size of an aircraft hanger door for the Didcot scrum-half to run through and chip ahead for an unconverted try. Maidenhead's response was immediate. A good ruck, quick ball along the line, a cut back by Ed 'No Neck' Poulding and another 5 points. Good simple rugby

Then Dave 'Teach' Williams collected the ball out wide, kicked ahead for John 'Mitchel Brother' Sudbury, showing a surprising turn of speed, to beat the cover for a try

Two more scores followed. The first covering almost the full length of the pitch involved nearly all the team and ended with Dan 'Desprate' Robinson diving over. The second another simple miss move by the backs enabling Ed No Neck' Poulding to score his second try of the half

38 – 5 up at half-time, the scores coming so thick and fast that your reporter had to check with the referee that he had got the score right,
Rob Wilkins knocking over convertions from the touch-line

Even the rain couldn't dampen the small crowd's enthusiasm

The game was effectively over by now and it only remained to see what the final score would be.  The next try was by Dan 'Desprate' Robinson, who deservedly got the Penn Motor Company man of the match award, followed not long after by a thundering charge by Tony "Scud" Rawlings which led to a try for Mark 'Batesey' Bates

For the next 20 minutes or so everybody seemed to get a bit bored and the game got stuck between the 22 metre lines. Then in the last 10 minutes a "wonder" try which went almost the full length of the pitch, and a solo try by "the secret weapon" Lester 'the man' Martin
 
Good stuff all round and a very good work out for the big one on the horizon – Wallingford. Before then the line-out needs some work, but if Maidenhead play like this then a win is very much on the cards

Penn Motor Company Man of the Match: Dan Robinson

Written by David 'the pencil' Anthony

U17's Heroics Not Enough
Maidenhead U17s 23pts vs Penzance & Newlyn U17s 46pts

With the squad decimated by absences, 13 intrepid boys travelled to Weston Super-Mare to take on the might of Cornwall.  On arrival P&N announced they only had 14 men to even things up a bit, however with nearly all of the Maids' squad playing out of position it was still going to be a big ask

The final score hardly reflects the game as Maids led 18-17 just before half time only for a freak kick through to give P&N an 18-23 lead at half time

With the Cornishmen playing a typical direct and aggressive game and Maids technically better, territory and possession was very even in the second half

However, P&N were more effective when they were in possession and Maids struggled to break their defensive line when it was their turn to attack

With a full squad this result would not have been in doubt, however heads were held high as we all enjoyed a beer in the bar after the game and the Maids players should be very proud of their attitude and performance on a difficult day 

Luck of the bounce not enough to save Newbury
Maidenhead U14Bs 32pts vs Newbury U14Bs 14pts

In December last year, this Newbury B squad beat Maids Bs with three unanswered tries.  Newbury deserved that win, dominating the game and seemingly breaking tackles at will.  But that was then.  The story was very different on Sunday

Now Newbury's best efforts were snuffed out time and time again by confident and technically sound tackles from almost every home player.  The same big strong No.8 forward who had scattered Maids players like ninepins in the last game found himself tied up, dragged down, driven back and dumped in this one.  The results were the same when Newbury moved the ball wide – forward progress halted by determined tackles; the ball won back by sound technique in contact and thereafter

The Maidenhead forwards dominated the scrum and lineout, winning possession almost regardless of put-or throw-in.  In the loose, they had more energy, more desire, and more aggression than their Blue opponents

Tyler Bello in particular carried the ball irresistibly, usually requiring three tacklers to stop him.  If he ever adds passing (considered an unnecessary distraction by many forwards, of course) to his game, this lad will go far

Bello it was who created the first Maids try by driving explosively into a static maul five metres short of the tryline.  So hard did he hit it that the whole thing seemed to disintegrate and out popped Tim Cronbach to score.  ("Sebas" might have had a hat-trick but his later two efforts were adjudged to have been held up).  Tyler himself scored just before half time and Mark Hine and Jamie Balmer also gained the forwards deserved rewards for an outstanding all round performance in attack and defence.

The rest of the points were scored by Daniel Shipton, with two tries and a conversion in another compelling display of pace, strength and confident positioning.  His first try was an untouched outside break after more strong forward work had manufactured a gap on the right and sure passing by the inside backs gave him some space to aim at

The second came from an inspired kick into the vacant fullback position by Leo Smith, guesting at flyhalf.  Three Maids chasers were all over the hapless Newbury cover and Shipton was first to the loose ball. 

Newbury scored two tries themselves, one in each half, but it has to be said that they were both the result of lucky bounces from merely hopeful kicks ahead.  The sort of predictably unpredictable rugby ball bounce that leaves a defender on their backside and an attacker with a stroll to the line.  In truth, this was the only way Newbury Blues looked likely to score on a day completely bossed by the Black, Magenta and Violet

Join the U10s at the club on the the 4th April for a great night of Oscars fun

Enjoy an evening of entertainment with friends from within and outside of the club

The evening will be themed on the Oscars with dress optional, ie dress as a star, black tie or as you like!

There will be something for everyone!:

• Complementary glass of champagne on arrival
• An opportunity to be photographed with a 'star'
• Fun competitions including 'Best costume', raffles and auction
• Casino – Professionally run roulette and blackjack tables
• Buffet dinner with desert and coffee
• Music – Themed on the Oscars and 80's in recognition of the Academy Award's eightieth celebration this year

For details contact Raf at rafael.leadbetter@bt.com

Forthcoming fixtures
Sunday 16th March
Colts vs Marlow (A) BBO
Minis - London Irish festival (A)
U13s - L Welsh (A)
U14As - Bracknell (A) League
U14Bs - Teddington (H)
U15s - Bracknell (H) League
U16s - Bracknell (A) League
U17s - Home 

Saturday 29th March
Maids 1st XV vs Reading (A) SW1
Maids 2nd XV vs Redingensians (H) BBO    
Maids 3rd XV vs Wallingford (H) BBO