Colts win OBB Tens

Sunday 22rd April 2006

Maidenhead Colts have signed off a superb season in the grand manner. Already crowned BBO League champions with a 100% record, they took the BBO 10s tournament at Marlow, ending the event by crushing Banbury by 29-5 in the final.

When they reflect, they will be left to rue losing in the National Cup to an Oxford team that they twice beat in League action. As a guide to Maidenhead frustration, Bishops Stortford have reached the final of the National Cup and on the way to the final they beat Chinnor by 20-0 - Maids' beat Chinnor by 40-0.

But the might-have-beens were all forgotten at the Tens tournament, well hosted by Marlow. It was already a proud weekend for the Colts as Joe Thomas, Maids' No 8, played for the Club's first XV in the South West League on Saturday, turning in a superb performance to take the match of the match award.

It was typical of the Colts' team spirit that Thomas was determined to turn out in the Tens tournament. He was nursed though the early rounds by coach Gordon MacDonald and the unleashed in spectacular style in the final against a Banbury side who had been dangerous all day. Banbury's kick off was caught by all-action prop Sam Brown, who took the ball on before picking out Thomas on the perfect angle. Thomas blasted through four tacklers and ran 60 metres to score at the posts.

Two remarkable individual tries by Alex Cannon were further highlights in a final in which Maids played powerful and often brilliant rugby - and it must be remembered that during the tournament, Cannon must have brought off at least five tackles which stopped tries.

However, the finale brought a try that will live long in the memory. Tom Plumer, the Wasps Academy lock, ran the ball out of deep defence in amazing style, the ball was whipped from hand with Plumer reappearing upfield and then Carl Corcoran, Maids' tight head, appeared with nowhere to contribute a devastating finishing burst for his second try of the tie. The try was in folklore even before the conversion.

Maids were also beautifully served by Ryan Christian, was has ended the season in wonderful form; by the straight-running Chris Adam and by Sam Stefan, one of the players of the season. Ben Sedler, normally a flanker, had to play the knock-out stages as a centre since skipper Simon Standfast and Divisional centre Dave Hodgson were injured in Pool matches and Sedler was a revelation. Forwards Jack Robinson and James Emanuel completed the squad.

Earlier, Maids had made the slowest start, managing only to draw with Beaconsfield, but then clicked into gear by beating Buckingham by 43-0 and Wallingford by 56-0. They beat Marlow, the hosts, by 33-17 in their quarter-final and Chiltern by a comfortable 24-0 in the semi.

Equally worthy of praise was the effort of Maids' B team. Maids were the only Club to field a second string and they did the Club proud. They had two tries disallowed by a rather distant referee in the Pool game against Chiltern but they beat Henley by 17-12 - Henley were to go on to win the Plate event.

In the quarter-final, inspired by incredible defence by Luke Knowles, Chris Richardson and Will Grant, Maids went down only by 10-0 to Oxford. Tom Morgan, Drew Jones, Mitch Batten, Andrew Mitchell and Pat McSweeney played with great resistance up front, Tom Lewis - back in Maids colours after a long injury - marshalled the team at fly-half, and the talented Adam Dean was always a threat. Chris Parrott showed his versatility by playing on the wing - good work for a former lock and Andy Hogan stood in brilliantly at scrum-half. Coach Macdonald paid particular tribute to the B team afterwards

Skipper Standfast was presented during the day with the main BBO Trophy and also the 10s trophy.

Most of the Maids squad are only in their first year in the Colts team and will be eligible for next season, and they will also be looking for strong local players to augment their attempts to retain their titles.

Maids A:
Brown, Corcoran, Emmanuel, Ouston, Plumer, Robinson, Sedler, Thomas, Adam, Cannon, Christian, Hodgson, Standfast, Stefan

Maids B:
Batten, Jones, Knowles, McSweeney, Mitchell, Morgan, Parrott, Shearer, Dean, Grant, Hogan, Lewis, Richardson.