Match report and photo courtesy of the

Maids step up but fail to crack Brack
Morale-boosting performance despite one-point defeat

Maidenhead could, and should, have won this cup clash against senior opposition on Saturday, but a lack of luck and a cutting edge counted against them.

Despite not having their first choice front row on the pitch, and with Steven Prince who has not played for the 1sts in eight years as a surprised back-up on the bench, Maids impressed in the scrum and shoved Bracknell off the ball at will. They also harried and hassled Bracknell at every opportunity, unsettling an obviously nervous set of players. Maids’ handling and passing in open play was also superior to their National League 3 hosts who look as though they might have a difficult season ahead.

However, where Maids struggled was in the lineouts, where they failed to compete, and in turning their decent amount of possession and, for the final 10 minutes, numerical superiority, into a match-winning score. However, although they lost, Maids will take a huge amount of confidence from this performance.

They started this match at Lily Hill Park on the front foot and after winger Sam Hocking was unlucky to be pulled back by the ref for a knock-on after a fine interception, they took the lead through the boot of Rob Hawkins. But this period of pressure did not produce any further points, and following a missed penalty from Bracknell’s Rob Smart, the momentum shifted to the hosts. Bracknell were held up over the line by some dogged Maids defending, but finally a sustained period of probing led to full-back Dave Budge going over from close range. Smart converted for 7-3. Maids pressed in the final minutes before the break, but Bracknell held on.

Two minutes into the second half, Maids were awarded another penalty and this time Hawkins’ effort agonisingly hit the post and bounced to safety, although seven minutes later he made amends with his next chance following a body-check on Mark Ruddick. Minutes later Hawkins missed by inches with his third effort in 10 minutes ahead of Maids’ only try of the match. A neat chip into the space behind the Bracknell defence, coupled with a fortunate bounce, allowed the chasing Simon Cripps to dive on the ball for an enterprising touchdown. Hawkins grabbed the conversion for 13-7.

To Bracknell’s credit they fought back and eventually used their greater lineout work to their advantage when a catch and drive produced a try for Lee Appleby, converted by Sebastian Berti. The last few minutes saw pressure from both teams, although it was Maids who had the best chances to win. But a dropped catch from Pete Nisbet, when he seemed to have a clear run in, and an accidental deflection from Johannes Vorster, of a pass which was meant for Hawkins to attempt a drop-goal, saw the visitors squander what they had worked so hard to achieve.

Bracknell: Budge, Perkins, Fellowes, Nowak, Vuadreu, Smart, Berti, Turner, Morris, Mirza, Appleby, Borcherds, Norman, Mulipola, Gregory. Subs: Murphy, Clapson, Chasler, O’Driscoll, Banks, Frost, Agar.

Maidenhead: Hawkins, Nisbet, Cripps, Hammond, Hocking, Ruddick, Ayres, Grove, Johnson, Blackmore, Mueller, King, Vorster, Parkhouse, Morgan. Subs: Jones (for Morgan, 67), Edwards (for Ayres, 72), R Thomas (for Hammond, 72), Prince, J Thomas, Cox and Rawlingson (not used).

Positives and negatives from cup endeavours
Maidenhead’s defeat to Bracknell in the Powergen National Trophy on Saturday produced more positives than negatives, according to coach Simon Edwards. The Maids supremo said of the clash: “The best side lost. However, my heart says we are glad to be out of the competition. We have made our money and we don’t have a big enough squad to support a league and cup run. “But my head says we’re disappointed to lose.” According to Edwards, the reasons for defeat were a bluntness to Maids’ cutting edge. He said: “We were not clinical enough in what I call the red zones. There was also some poor decision making. “However, that said, we responded very well from the Clifton setback the previous week and that is the sign of a good side.” Maids gave their National League 3 opponents such a hard time because they got their tactics just right. Edwards said: “We knew we would struggle in the lineouts, so we went for an all-prop front row in the scrum. “We targeted this and it worked. I thought the whole front row should have got man of the match, although in particular George Blackwell was excellent. “Unfortunately, the ref protected them against some imaginative scrummaging. It was very frustrating and I told him so.” But as Edwards knows, this improved performance means nothing if Maids lose in the league at Cheltenham tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 3pm. He said: “We must be positive going down there. I have Stuart Mackay back which is a boost, although he will start on the bench as Hammond and Cripps have been good together in the centre. “Danny Martin is also available so I have some selection decisions to make. “I know what to expect from Cheltenham, and I think it will be a good match.”