Banbury Colts 17 v Maidenhead Colts 20
Sunday 7th January 2007

Maidenhead Colts kept their New Year resolution to return to winning ways at Banbury on Sunday. In blustery conditions they overcame the hosts in the National Colts Cup Plate competition, winning 17-20.

In the first half the wind was in Maids favour and they took full advantage. Alex Cannon opened the scoring with a try under the posts which Dave Hodgson then converted. Maids forwards, marshalled by scrum-half Olly Syles, kept Banbury in their half and pressure them into conceding a penalty which Hodgson duly converted.

Maids missed several more opportunities, particullaly Andy Hogan who was denied by an unlucky bounce having kicked though the Banbury defence. Maids pressure was eventually rewarded when Mike Burnett crossed the line to make it 0-15 at half-time.

With the increasing wind now against then Maids had a tougher second half, as Banbury came back into the game with two tries to narrow the gap to 12-15.

However the rejuvenated Maids did not let their heads go down as they battled back to pin Banbury deep into their own half. In a well-worked line-out move Tom Morgan and Chris Holden combined to feed Luke Knowles as he peeled round the front to score in the corner.

Banbury replied but it wasn’t enough and Maids were through to meet Aylesbury in the next round on 21st Jan.

Maids squad: Chris Adam, Mitchell Batten, Max Bishop, Tom Bradbury, Mike Burnett, Alex Cannon, Peter Gull, James Henley, Dave Hodgson, Andrew Hogan, Chris Holden, Luke Knowles (c), Liam Lynch, James Makurumure, Patrick McSweeney, Thomas Morgan, Brinsley Munn, Joe Scrace, Marcus Shah, Michael Skelton, Oliver Styles, Gareth Whyte.