Colts clinch BBO championship at Amersham & Chiltern

Amersham & Chiltern Colts 7 v Maidenhead Colts 17
Sunday 5th March 2006

Maidenhead Colts are champions of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon League. Remarkably, they have sealed their title triumph with three games of their League programme still remaining, with their 100% record from 8 games to date meaning that they cannot now be caught.

The achievement is remarkable on two counts. First, because of the many school and college commitments, Maids are hardly ever able to train as a team. Second, they have played most of the season with a long injury list, with props Pat McSweeney and Ash Hanks, back row man Luke Knowles, and fly-halves Dayne Ferrar and Tom Lewis, all missing.

They sealed the title with a 17-7 win over Amersham & Chiltern at Amersham on Sunday, and the Chiltern team, who Maids have met three times in the season in League and Cup matches, earned the respect of Maidenhead for a performance which never wavered in intensity. Tom Manton, their hooker, was one of the best opponents Maids met this season in the League and National Cup.

Once again, it was another triumph for the whole Maids squad since giant prop Carl Corcoran and the normal starting locks, Tom Plumer and James Emmanuel, were unavailable, as were backs Olly Styles and Andy Hogan and flankers Chris Parrott and Ben Sedler.

However, the transition was seamless. Drew Jones and Andy Mitchell stepped in at lock to play outstandingly in different styles, with Jones as line-out leader and the powerful Mitchell ruling the roost in the rucks. Loose-head Sam Brown, currently in the UWIC squad, led the forwards well, Jason Ouston and Jack Robinson were industrious all over the field.

Karl Kempton, shrugging off the after effects of his birthday, was forced into jumping duties, Mitch Batten was as competitive as ever on the flank and Joe Thomas, possibly player of the match, gave a tremendous performance ever by his own high standards, often seeming to drive Chilts back on his own

Maids made hard work of their win in that they were not able to convert half-chances, and were actually over the Chiltern line twice times without being able to ground the ball. Chiltern's resistance never wavered but they were kept way back from the gain line for almost the entire match by Maidenhead's aggressive defence in which David Hodgson and Simon Standfast in the centre were superb. The back three of Alex Cannon, Sam Stefan and Ryan Christian coped really well with the rolling ball in the back three, with Christian's tackle count remarkably high

Hodgson put Maids into the lead with a penalty but then Chiltern's Sam Portland scored a breakaway try, hacking the ball on with good control. Portland converted to made it 7-3. However, Matt Wardle, the Maids fly-half, danced through for a stunning individual try and Chris Adam, making a rare appearance these days at No 9, then executed a brilliant chip and chase, measuring the kick, picking up a harsh bounce and running on to score. Head coach Gordon Macdonald assured followers that his anguished bark as Adam set off on his own had been a sneeze.

Hodgson's conversions made it 17-7 and there was no more score in the second half. Tom Morgan, Grant Shearer, Chris Richardson and Adam arrived late in the second half with Will Grant still in reserve; the final whistle signalled the celebrations although Maids' resolve in the dressing room was to try to win their remaining three games for a 100% record, not an easy task against teams that Maids hold in high regard.

Maids squad:
Mitchell Batten, Sam Brown, Drew Jones, Tim Johnson, Karl Kempton, Andrew Mitchell, Tom Morgan, Jason Ouston, Jack Robinson, Grant Shearer, Joe Thomas, Chris Adam, Alex Cannon, Ryan Christian, Adam Dean, Will Grant, Dave Hodgson, Chris Richardson, Simon Standfast, Sam Stefan, Matt Wardle.