Match report and photo courtesy of the

Spartans put to the sword by Cripps

A hat-trick of tries from powerhouse Simon Cripps capped an entertaining performance by Maidenhead on their first ever trip to Spartans. A committed defensive effort in the first half against the wind ensured the visitors were only behind by four points at the break. This deficit was soon wiped out as Maids made use of the conditions in the second half and then ran ragged a tiring but spirited home team, with some powerful breaks from midfield all backed up with clinical finishing.

Maids went into the match against these virtually unknown opponents expecting a bloody clash after the Gloucester club had built up a reputation for disciplinary problems. In fact a few days earlier, the Spartans coach had earned a lengthy touchline ban, along with a suspension for one of his players, by the Gloucester RFU. However, as it was, the match was played aggressively but fairly, and Spartans showed themselves to be a useful outfit with some notable players.

Nonetheless, Maids started and finished this encounter on top and as a unit had fewer weaknesses. They certainly had the edge when it came to finishing off chances, and this began in the first minute when stand-in full-back Ben Ayres squeezed in at the corner following neat play from quickly recycled ball. Mark Ruddick missed the conversion, but Maids had set out their stall. However, possession in the Spartans’ half was limited as the hosts’ stand-off Ryan Gibbon accurately drilled wind-assisted kicks to the corners to turn Maids and maintain the pressure. And with Maids barely competing in the lineouts, it was a largely in defence where their energies were focused. Ruddick did grab a simple penalty in front of the posts after one period of Maids pressure which saw Piers Morgan fall inches short with his attempted touchdown, but it was Spartans, with tries through Crowley and Bird, who took the honours at the break 12-8. But it was a slender lead, especially as they had enjoyed the advantage of a strong wind at their backs. The hosts had also failed to use the obvious talents of 17-year-old winger Dan Norton, who was lightweight and inexperienced, but by far the quickest player on the pitch, with electric pace and an elusive side-step.

After the break, it took Maids five minutes to regain the lead, and from that point they never looked back. After various phases Jonny Hammond broke a couple of tackles, off-loaded to Alex Gallina, who palmed the ball into the path of a rampaging Mark Mueller, who would not be stopped. Ruddick converted for 15-12. Fortunately for Maids, Spartans’ handling was poor as half-chances came and were let slip from their grasp. Maids on the other hand were full of running and confident with ball in hand, and this showed on 60 minutes when Cripps found himself on the end of a patient attack, which he straightened-up and then drove over the line under the posts. Ruddick made it 22-12. To the hosts’ credit, they immediately countered and, making the most of missed tackles, set up Nonu for a well worked touchdown, which Williams converted. The difference was now three points, but from here Maids steamrollered their hosts.

In what was an entertaining, attacking half – and with Ayres now at scrum-half having swapped his No.15 role with Gareth Edwards – Maids pushed on. Cripps, who himself had been moved to centre, grabbed his second try when he blasted his way through a tiring Spartans defence to coast in from 40 yards. His hat-trick was earned on 76 minutes when, following a fantastic break by Ayres which saw him run half the length of the pitch, the ball was shifted to Mueller, who in turn found Cripps in support. He strolled over for a memorable counter-attacking try in the corner. Ruddick converted both of these two tries, to maintain his decent form with the boot, for a 36-19 lead with five minutes remaining. Both teams maintained their attacking intents, but it was Maids who again made use of the space to engineer another penetrating attack, which produced an overlap for Edwards to dive over the line and touchdown a well worked effort.

It was Spartans who had the final say with a try on 84 minutes, scored by the electric Norton, who skinned Stuart Mackay on the flank and shimmied in for a well deserved touchdown. Spartans showed enough promise through Norton and Bird, and enough solid pack work, to think that they will maintain their Division 1 status come the end of the season. However, Maids had the flair and handling confidence in the three-quarters, enough experience up-front, and defensive qualities when needed, to be worthy winners.

Spartans: Crowley, Kooijman, Williams, Nonu, Norton, Gibbon, Bird, Howe, Rowlands, Smith, Shannon, Cowles, Fisher, Duffin, Rimmer. Subs: Gwilliam, Brazil, Myatt.

Maidenhead: Ayres, Morris, Hammond, MacKay, Cripps, Ruddick, Edwards, Blackwell, Craig, Johnston, Gallina, Mueller, Vorster, Parkhouse, Morgan. Subs: Grove, King.

Tactical moves ensure second half try-fest
It all went according to plan for Maidenhead 1sts at Spartans on Saturday, and it is not often that can be said. Travelling to a ground they had never played at before, against a team and coach which has a questionable disciplinary record, with a skeleton squad in tow, Maids were wary that this contest might be a banana skin.

However, a solid defensive effort initially, followed by a fluent display of handling skills after the break, ensured Maids of a second consecutive 41-24 win. Coach Simon Edwards was extremely pleased to have come away from Gloucester with all the points. He said: “It was an enjoyable match. I thought we were very professional in the first half, playing into the wind. “In the second half we wanted to play the match in their 22 and we did. “We used the wind to good effect to keep the pressure on them. “We trailed by four points at half-time, but I was never in any doubt that we would win. We had them in the backs, and were more than a match for them up front. It was only the lineout which didn’t work.” He was also delighted the tactical changes he made at the break paid off. He said: “I switched Ben Ayres (full-back) with Gareth Edwards (scrum-half), and he provided us with more sniping runs in the Spartans danger area. “Simon Cripps was also moved from wing to centre, to replace Stuart Mackay. Because Jonny Hammond was double marked, this meant there was space available for Cripps, whose powerful style was highly effective and earned him three tries.” He added: “Sometimes, as a coach, these changes work, and sometimes they leave you with egg on your face. This time they worked.”

Maids entertain Penryn on Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm, in a match the Cornishmen will be targeting after their 65-20 cup thrashing at Braywick six weeks ago. Edwards said of the encounter: “I’m expecting a really hard match. We hammered them in the cup so they will be out for revenge. “They have a new coach, who has come from Camborne, so I’m expecting them to play a forward-orientated game, which given the current wet weather could be a real test for us.” Edwards also confirmed that his threadbare squad is being bolstered in the next couple of weeks. He said: “Two new players are joining, that’s definite. It will give us some depth to the squad after recent depletion through injury.”