Match report courtesy of the

Maids Crack Bracknell

An enjoyable game of rugby was made all the more pleasureable by a comprehensive victory for Maidenhead over Berkshire rivals Bracknell on Saturday.

In short, Maids were just superior in every department and the cumulative effect was a solid performance and revenge for Bracknell¹s one-point win over Maids in the cup last season. The keys were a display in the pack where technique and brains overcame weight and brawn, while Maids backs showed the sort of handling that comes with practice and confidence.

Yet for all Maids' attacking intent, there was never more than one score in this clash until the final minutes, and we've all seen Maids play like this before and let it slip at the last. But not on Saturday. Buoyed by a good win the previous Saturday against St Ives, facing a Bracknell team who had not won a league game in more than a year, and facing a former Maids favourite, centre Stuart Mackay, the visitors needed no motivation.

On a beautiful day perfect for running rugby both sides looked to move the ball swiftly, and it was Bracknell who put the first points on the board with a penalty on three minutes from Ben Nowak. However, Maids were soon in the swing of things and three minutes later scored their first touchdown when the excellent Max Willcocks joined the line from full-back and burst through a gap in the Bracknell defence to score. Although Simon Swadling missed the conversion, Maids had the momentum and their superior passing allied to the threat of Willcocks, Jonny Hammond, Simon Standfast and Dan Walton in the three-quarters meant the visitors had plenty more points up their sleeves.

Ironically, although Maids pressed, they could not turn pressure into points, and in Bracknell¹s first foray out of their own half in nearly 20 minutes the hosts scored and it came from Mackay. A rampaging run from Jamie Vernon did the initial damage, offloading to Mackay just before the line. The conversion made the score 10-5, but this was as good as it got for the hosts, who by half-time were 14-10 down thanks to three consecutive Swadling penalties. All came following constant Maids pressure with the forwards maintaining possession and setting up the backs when in striking range.

Bracknell started the second half with a penalty to see them trail by just a point, but it was a rare highlight for the hosts, who failed to find their reasonable form from the first 40 minutes and displayed a lack of confidence which manifested itself in their handling and decision making. Maids in contrast, although not at their best or strongest, proved to be more focused and clinical. After one move was held up over the line, and following a series of penalties Maids extended their lead on 62 minutes when scrum-half Gareth Edwards nipped over from close range next to the posts. Swadling made it 21-13.

An injury to Swadling forced a reorganisation, but this failed to halt the visitors' march. Unsurprisingly, Bracknell pressed as the clock ticked down, but all they could achieve was a penalty as Maids' defence held firm. Then, to round off the match, Maids bagged a try on 79 minutes when Willcocks completed a fine solo effort from distance for 26-16.

Although at times the score in this match had been close, in reality Maids always looked the stronger and more confident of the two teams.

Maidenhead: Willcocks, Standfast, Hammond, Ruddick, Walton, Swadling, Edwards, A Riley, Craig, Grove, Gallina, Mueller, Lynch, Windeyer, G Riley. Subs: Blackwell, Thomas, Cannon.

So far so good as young team learn their lessons
With two wins from three starts, and despite a poor pre-season and a growing injury list, Maids coach Simon Edwards is satisfied with his team's progress so far this campaign. He is also content that his team has progressed from "falling asleep" against St Ives to playing "80 minutes of rugby" against Bracknell on Saturday. He said: "Beating Bracknell was an excellent result, especially after nearly letting it slip against St Ives. I spoke to the players and they identified what they did wrong, and put it right on Saturday. It was a solid performance against a Bracknell team that I think will still shock a few people. They have not had the best of starts, but they have some decent players and it's all about confidence. You could see it drain away in the second half. The opposite to us."

The only down side to the match was an injury to fly-half Simon Swadling who has damaged his collar bone and could be out for two to three weeks. It's another injury to add to the growing band in the treatment room, as Edwards explained: "I can't believe how many are injured, and more to the point the fact that they are all backs. Rob Hawkins might be fit to return on Saturday, but otherwise we are chopping and changing our backs to cover."

One to catch the eye, and man of the match for the second week, was Max Willcocks who started at fullback before moving into the centre. Edwards said of the youngster: "He's learning all the time and is a real handful for opposition defences."

On Saturday, Maids entertain newly-promoted Cleve, kick-off 3pm, who have also won two from three and impressively trounced Basingstoke 53-22 last week.