Match report courtesy of the

Gloss finish for Maids

Revenge is sweet with satisfying victory over Stoke in end-of-season finale

Maidenhead took what chances they created, and withstood the pressure which was thrown at them for most of the match, to earn a satisfying end-of-season victory over their evenly-matched visitors from Basingstoke on Saturday. This was an encounter which the hosts wanted to win to gain revenge for the drawn clash at Coniston Road which they believed they should have won, and to end the season on a high in front of a packed house which included more than 100 well-dined and vocal old boys.

The warm weather, firm surface and fact that there was nothing on the result, allowed both teams to display excellent passages of play from their free-running three-quarters with the contest at times having the feel of a sevens tournament. It was Maids who started on the front foot, and how! Inside six minutes they were 12-0 up after having scored two tries as good as they have managed all season. From the kick-off Maids put together a multi-phased move which ended with Paul Jones setting up Mark Mueller who bulldozed his way through two indeterminate tackles to touch down. Just three minutes later a big hit in midfield saw the ball turned over to Maids who, once again, through various hands, allowed Simon Cripps to stretch his legs on the flank which he did with good effect to touchdown under the posts. This time Danny Walton was on target with the conversion, and Maids had produced the perfect start.

To Basingstoke’s credit they did not retreat into their shell but came out fighting with centres Matt Lucas and Simon Buckland proving that they could match anything Maids’ backs could do. Indeed it took a fine last-gasp tackle to stop the visitors getting on the scoresheet, but on 17 minutes they could not be denied when a period of sustained pressure climaxed with Carl Marshall going over in the corner. The conversion was missed. The remainder of the half was characterised by some big hits in midfield and a stop-start nature to the clash which appeared as the referee became increasingly whistle-happy. Importantly, Walton slotted home a penalty to extend Maids’ lead to 10 points, while Stoke’s Ollie Rogers missed a very presentable opportunity to add three points.

Maids started the second half without full-back Walton who left the field with a possible hamstring injury, which forced a beleaguered Maids squad to put back rower Piers Morgan at No.15. This time it was Stoke who got into their stride first but they were unable to finish off what they set up. Buckland should have done better when twice in a one-on-one situation with stand-in full-back Morgan, but produced poor, late passes which saw the moves break down. Maids in response were unfortunate when Mark Ruddick broke through with Will Lowden in support but the referee incorrectly ended the move for what he said was a forward pass.

However, on 54 minutes Maids made the most of their third opportunity of the match when, from a solid scrum, quick hands by Stuart Mackay and Ruddick enabled Cripps to show his finishing prowess with his second excellent try of the match. Ruddick converted for what seemed an uncatchable 22-5 lead. But Basingstoke maintained possession and as the clock ticked down, they managed to find gaps in the stubborn Maids defence. On 67 minutes Simon Appleby touched down after Lucas and Buckland had created a hole in midfield, and then seven minutes later the visitors took the score to 22-19 when Dave Lambert finished the try of the match which started with Stoke pinned in their own 22 and ended, after some improvised and enterprising counter-attacking, with a try. Rogers converted.

As players tired in the heat, tempers became frayed and the last action of the match saw both sets of players squaring up to each other. It was a dramatic finale to a half which saw nine minutes of added time for Maids to hold out and ultimately earn a memorable win and teach Stoke a lesson in taking chances when they come.

Maidenhead:
Walton, Mackay, Plamus, Cripps, Lowden, Ruddick, Edwards, Riley, Craig, Johnston, Gallina, Mueller, Thomas, Parkhouse, Jones. Subs: Morgan (for Walton, 40), White (for Cripps, 67), Blackwell (not used).

Basingstoke:
Rogers, Lambert, Buckland, Lucas, Murdock, Marshall, Fish, Murphy, Lovegrove, Townsend, Stirling, R Northcote, Dixon, Appleby, T Northcote. Subs: Perkins, Hopkins.