Grove 8 v Maidenhead Colts 17
Sunday 27th November 2005

On a dark and dank November day it was three breakout tries from Karl Kempton, Chris Adam and inevitably Sam Stefan that made the difference.

Grove started the game brightly and put Maids under pressure but Maids held firm and eventually made their way down the slope. From a maul just inside the Grove half Kempton made a blind-side break and was halfway to the try line before the opposition or even the referee noticed.

Maids attacking display didn't match the defence with dropped balls and the giving away of silly penalties. From one of these Grove kicked the three points.

Maids second try came from another breakout when Adam kicked ahead. With the Grove defence in disarray, Adam and Dave Hodgson chased the kick which bounced perfectly for Adam to pick up and run in.

Grove camped on the Maids line for long periods but couldn't break through. Maids heroic defence gave away a number of penalties but Grove kept taking the wrong options.

After the break Grove used the slope in their favour and were eventually rewarded with a forwards' try in the corner.

Maids' Emanuel was yellow carded for over enthusiastic use of his boot and gained a second under the recent IRB ruling against blowing kisses at the opposition.

With Maids down to 14 men Grove had their tails up and put them under pressure for the rest of the half. However Sam Stefan wasn't to be denied his weekly score. From a kick ahead by Matt Wardle, Stefan chased, fly hacked and picked up to score under the posts. Wardle converted.

Not a pretty game to watch but a good victory, which maintains Maids unbeaten record and puts them top of the table with two games in hand.

Maids squad:
Cannon, Christian, Adam, Hodgson, Wardle, Styles, Stefan; Brown (c), Ouston, Corcoran, Emanuel, Plumer, Batten, Kempton, Thomas. Subs: Mitchell, Richardson, Hanks, Jones, Morgan, Dean