Maidenhead Colts 40 v Chinnor Colts 0
Sunday 2nd October 2005

It might be said that Maidenhead Colts stepped up to the plate after some pointed criticism was made of their performance in defeating Oxford only narrowly in their opening BBO League match. Against Chinnor, the reigning BBO Colts champions, Maids were unrecognisable and thrashed their illustrious opponents to the tune of 40-0. If Maids' normally excellent line-out had not had such a rare catastrophic day then the score would have been bigger.

Maids made changes to give all the squad not involved against Oxford a run, and the strength and power throughout the team was so impressive. Joe Thomas, the human tractor up front, scored a remarkable hat-trick; David Hodgson led a superb defence from the midfield and put over five of his six conversions - the sixth bounced out off the post,

Pat McSweeney and the Maids front row pulverised their massive opponents in the scrum, and Dayne Ferrar at fly-half had a superb match. Karl Kempton, the giant flanker, had a successful day after his switch from the backs and Alex Cannon, switched to full-back during the game was needle sharp. But the truth was that again, this was a rousing team performance with all seven replacements tucking in with relish.

Maids led by 14-0 at half time, with both Thomas and Kempton scoring after rousing forward play. Maids were up against the wind in the second half but they sealed the match with a delightful try. Kempton and Olly Styles cleaned up after the ball had gone loose in the scrum and the Maids pack put in a punishing driving maul. After the ball was sent back, Ferrar made a devastating break, linked with Cannon and Sam Stefan and Ferrar reappeared to score.

After that, Maids relaxed and there was some outstanding combinations between backs and forwards. Thomas scored his second and third tries, with the hat-trick coming at the end of another splendid move and Ryan Christian, whose pace had been a feature, also scored down the left-wing.

Maids team: Sam Stefan, Alex Cannon, David Hodgson, Matt Wardle ; Dayne Ferrar, Olly Styles; Pat McSweeney, Grant Shearer, Jack Robinson, Tom Plumer (capt), Adam Dean, Andy Mitchell, James Emanuel, Karl Kempton, Joe Thomas replacements: Ryan Christian, Zak Pope, Andy Hogan, Chris Parrott, Tom Morgan, Ash Hanks, Tim Johnson.