Match report and photo courtesy of the

Hammond hits hat-trick

MAIDENHEAD secured local bragging rights in a highly entertaining derby clash with Reading Abbey at Braywick Park on Saturday.

The final scoreline suggests a reasonably comfortable win, and ultimately it was. But the visitors were never completely subdued and it was only Jonny Hammond’s hat-trick try on 66 minutes that eventually decided the outcome, as the powerhouse centre ducked, dived and finally bulldozed his way over the line from close range. The talented youngster had asked questions of the Abbey defence all afternoon, and his presence was perhaps the largest single contributing factor to the win. However, it was Maidenhead’s range of skills which ultimately decided the tie, with all the backs making telling contributions, while the pack did exactly what was required of them.

Second row stalwart Mark Mueller led the way, as the forwards made the hard yards, won clean possession at crucial moments and chipped in with a couple of tries. In stark contrast, Abbey's tactics were based almost exclusively on their rolling maul, while the backs’ sole task seemed to be tackling. Unfortunately, this was not their strong suit, as Maidenhead opened up the Abbey defence three times in the first 10 minutes, only to squander clear try-scoring opportunities with wild passes. Having been let off the hook, Abbey countered with gusto, pushing play deep into Maidenhead territory before driving Maids winger James Morris into touch, when he was forced to play a delicate grubber kick. From the ensuing catch and drive, Abbey propelled flanker Fungai Mutephfa over the whitewash, gifting flyhalf Scott Brodie a simple conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Thankfully, rather than getting flustered, Maids simply stepped up a gear. Almost from the restart, a multi-phase move stretched Abbey’s defences, before Hammond broke the line, drew the final tackle and popped a short pass to stand-in fullback Ben Ayres for an easy try. Mark Ruddick made sure of the conversion and the scores were level. On 26 minutes, Maids edged ahead when Ruddick slotted a penalty kick from right in front of the posts. But the real turning point came two minutes later, when the Maidenhead pack won a scrum against the head. With the Reading backs out of position, Hammond waltzed through a gaping hole before finding hard-running centre Stuart Mackay in support, who dismantled the remaining defences before slipping an inside pass to flanker Mark Parkhouse for the simplest of tries beneath the posts. Ruddick added the extras and Maids were two scores clear.

Abbey responded immediately with speedy scrum-half Wynand de Klerk sprinting in to score from the halfway line. However, Maids were now in the ascendancy and scored twice more before the break to establish a commanding 17-point lead at the turn. The first came from a typical bullocking charge from winger Simon Cripps, who drove infield from the touchline only to be held up just short of the try line. He used his strength to retain possession and quick ball put Hammond over to the right of the posts. With time running out the forwards made it 29-12, when Richie Craig emerged from the melee to score a well-deserved try following a well executed catch and drive move.

Shortly after the break, Abbey scored from a rolling maul, only for Maids to reply with a period of sustained pressure, which culminated in a close-range score for Hammond. Ruddick’s kick made it 36-19, but Reading refused to lie down and fought back with an unconverted try from their now predictable rolling maul. However, Maids were still two scores clear and demonstrated their clear superiority with one final try. Once again it was Hammond who initiated the move with a surging run from midfield. He held on to the ball too long and was caught in possession, but his team-mates were in close support and Morris brought play back infield to set up a maul inside Abbey’s 22. The forwards arrived to supply quick second-phase possession and Hammond was on hand to barge his way over in the corner. For the remaining 15 minutes Maids shut up shop and kept Abbey penned inside their own half, ensuring a comfortable 41-24 winning margin.

Considering last week’s debacle at Clevedon, coach Simon Edwards will no doubt be pleased with the win, especially in light of his lengthy injury list. However, to be in with any chance of securing a promotion play-off spot he still has a lot to do, especially in terms of points-difference, as the Maidenhead defence continues to leak soft tries.

Maidenhead: Ayres, Morris, Hammond, Mackay, Cripps, Ruddick, Edwards, Blackwell, Craig, Grove, Gallina, Mueller, Vorster, Parkhouse, Jones. Subs: Morgan (for Parkhouse), Cassidy (for Cripps), Greene. Reading Abbey: Burns, Waterhouse, Farlie, McMurdo, Mullen, Brodie, De Klerk, Moorcroft, Grobler, Walsh, Potts, Barton, Hallett, Mutephfa, Willis. Subs: Finnie, Kindon, Anfield (all used).

Edwards: Job done
Maidenhead put behind them their injury problems and a setback at Clevedon the previous week to overcome Reading Abbey in a derby clash at Braywick on Saturday.

According to coach Simon Edwards it was actually those difficulties which made the victory even sweeter. He said: “I enjoyed the week’s preparations to the match. We were up against it, but very focused. “We had a gameplan which worked and I’m very pleased. The guys did what they had to do. “It was all about getting 15 fit players on the team sheet and then deciding where they should play. “We struggled a bit up front, which is not surprising as we were without a tighthead. But outside this we were dominant and from No.9-15 we outclassed them. “We knew Abbey would be confident, but my players did the business.” He added: “I spoke to their chairman after the match and he said they had conceded more in the last couple of matches than they did all season in Division 2. Welcome to Division 1!

“They were more physical than they have been, but we were 25 points better than them in Division 2 and we still are in Division 1.” However, if this encounter was full-blooded, Edwards is expecting a ferocious battle at Gloucester-based Spartans tomorrow (Saturday). He said: “We’ve never played them at their place before. They have a very good home record and are coming off the back of a good win (39-20 at Oxford Harlequins). It’s going to be tough. “I have been told they are a physical side and on their own ground they will be a challenge.” The Berkshire side will make the trip with basically the same squad as Saturday, although tighthead prop Dave Johnston should be back. It will be a case of players – often playing out of position – stepping up to the mark, as they did against Abbey. Edwards is certain his players will do this, saying: “On Saturday second rower Mark Mueller was awsome and first choice scrum-half Ben Ayres at full-back was very solid. I was surprised Abbey didn’t target him. “In addition, Jonny Hammond had flu all week and turned in a fabulous display. I hate to think how well he would play if he got pneumonia!”