Colts' powerful forwards overcome Chiltern
 

Maidenhead Colts 30 v Amersham & Chiltern Colts 3
Sunday 11th December 2005
 

Maidenhead Colts pulled conclusively clear at the top of the BBO League with a splendid 30-3 win over the strong Amersham & Chiltern at a frost-bound Braywick on Sunday. In a match in which both sides played in an excellent spirit, Maids were in complete control after a lively opening period by the visitors.

Maidenhead now face Witney on Sunday at Witney in their final BBO game of the first phase and their coaches are delighted that the team is improving all the time. Maids were missing five forwards from their match-squad due to injury but two longer-term injury victims, giant No 8 Joe Thomas and Berkshire county fly-half Dayne Ferrar, will be fit for the New Year.

Their forwards were too powerful for Chiltern, with James Emmanuel and Tom Plumer driving the ball with immense power and Mitch Batten, reverting to the back row due to an injury crisis, also outstanding and Chris Parrott made a welcome return from injury for the last 15 minutes. Jack Robinson was on the mark with his throwing and behind the scrum, Matt Wardle controlled the play with the touch of a master, Alex Cannon ran well from full-back and the back division as a whole gave an epic defensive performance which restricted Chiltern to a penalty goal.

David Hodgson put Maids ahead with a penalty and although they was soon cancelled out with a Chiltern penalty in reply, Hodgson came again, hacking the ball on for a try after superb Maids approach work. Another try came before the interval, when a sweeping move broke down, only for Ryan Christian to seize the loose ball and unleash a burst of pace for a try out side. Hodgson added one conversion for a 15-3 half-time lead.

Maids' performance dipped in the third quarter and it took a last-ditch cover tackle by Tim Johnson to stop a dangerous Chiltern move. But Maids finished in emphatic fashion. A move sustained through many phases ended with flanker Karl Kempton unleashing a sizzling burst for a try in the corner and then Maids signed off with a majestic team try, with Wardle cutting down the centre of the field to score at the posts. Hodgson added one conversion.

Maidenhead squad:
Cannon, Dean, Hodgson, Standfast(c), Wardle, Styles, Christian; Robinson, Ouston, Corcoran, Emmanuel, Jones, Plumer, Batten, Kempton. Subs: Adam, Richardson, Hanks, Parrott, Johnson, Morgan, Shearer.