Widden Old Boys Colts 24 v Maidenhead Colts 15
Sunday 1st October 2006

Maidenhead Colts showed their strength in depth when for the second week running they took a long trip to Gloucestershire. With 13 changes from the side that started against Stroud the previous week, they took on Widden Old Boys in a highly entertaining game in which the lead changed several times.

Whilst Maids had just about brought enough players they didn't turn up in the right positions and there was a distinct shortage of backs. However Elliot Hawkes, who not having played for a year thought he was just coming to spectate, was found a complete set of kit and pressed into service. Hooker Tom Morgan made his debut on the wing and the game also saw the welcome return of Tom Kay.

Maids forwards started brightly and were soon dominating the loose play with great efforts from Guy Kynaston, Chris Holden and Gareth Whyte. However it was the Maids backs that scored first with an individual effort from Jimmy Makurumure.

Widden struck back when Maids defence fumbled a kick into their 22 and Widden again scored a converted try shortly afterwards to make the score 14-5.

Maids knew where their strength lay and keeping it in the forwards proved correct as they pushed over for Kynaston to score.

In the second half Maids continued to put pressure on and were unlucky to have a similar try disallowed as the referee didn't see Chris Adam touch it down.

Maids now pressed hard with continuous attempts to cross the line only to be thwarted by a Widden defence that gave away repeated penalties. The referee eventually lost patience and awarded a penalty try to give Maids the lead.

Such was Maids' dominance in the scrum that Widden's hopes of uncontested scrums when Mitch Batten left the field were dashed when Morgan returned to his normal position.

Widden retook the lead with a penalty and then late try made it three tries each but the conversions and penalty gave Widden the game. Must remember the kicking boots in future.

In the end it was really enjoyable game and worth the long trip.

Maids squad:
Chris Adam, Mitch Batten, Tom Bradbury, Mike Burnett, Peter Gull, Elliot Hawkes, Chris Holden, Tom Kay, Guy Kynaston, Luke Knowles, Scott Lowden, Liam Lynch, James Makurumure, Tom Morgan, Brin Munn, Chris Parrott, Gareth Whyte.