Banbury Colts 6 v Maidenhead Colts 43
OBB League
Sunday 8^th October 2006

Maidenhead Colts, holders of the BBO League title, had to contend with a double steamroller breakdown prior to their second game in defence of their title at unbeaten Banbury, who had won their first two BBO games.

First, Maids lost Wasps Academy lock Tom Plumer to a niggling injury in the week and a lower back problem cost them Maidenhead first team forward Joe Thomas in the warm-up. Thomas had played a splendid match for Maids first XV against Basingstoke the previous day. They were also without inspirational full-back Sam Stefan and all their university contingent, who they intend to call upon judiciously throughout the season. If they are selected, that is.

Maids were completely undaunted at Banbury. Inspired by a large core of last season's winning side and a superb crop of newcomers, they won a seven-try victory. This was very satisfying as Banbury were superb opponents, they played with power and commitment and spirit, and Maids were very impressed by their welcome on and off the field.

Maids were beautifully marshalled by Dayne Ferrar at fly-half, by Jack Robinson at prop and by the powerful Adam in the centre. The scoring hero was Mike Burnett, who scored a sizzling hat-trick, all in the first half. But in truth, this was a squad performance, with newcomers Brin Munn, James Henley, Chris Holden and Gareth Whyte up front, and Scott Lowden, Mike Skelton and Jimmy Makurumure in the backs all shining.

Maids made an explosive start with a try that made you yearn for a video replay. Alex Cannon was caught on his own line under pressure from three Banbury rushers. He started running, passed flat across his own posts, and Dayne Ferrar and Chris Adam took the ball on. Ferrar popped up again to take a pass from Adam and sent the lightning Mike Burnett sprinting in from 50 yards for a sensational score.

At this stage, Maids were only held back by penalties. Amazingly, they conceded 12 against two in the first half alone, including the once-popular not-straight feed in the scrum. Either Maids became grossly ill-disciplined or the laws had changed while they were on the M40 but either way, Banbury kicked two beautifully-struck penalties.

However, Burnett scored a superb individual try with a run, chip ahead and chase then he finished off a move after Ferrar had recovered the ball and delightful passing from Robinson and line-out expert Chris Parrott sent Burnett away for his hat-trick. Henley finished over electric Maids handling for a try at the posts to complete the first half scoring.

In the second half, Olly Styles came on and gatecrashed a forwards party for a try in a driving Maids maul; he then went scorching away from a tap penalty, beating man after man, before making a try for Ferrar at the posts. With all seven Maids replacements now on the field, Maids launched a final attack from deep with the deadly Cannon cutting through, and giving the most perfectly-timed pass for Makurumure to run 50 metres for the try. Cannon and Ferrar kicked four conversions between them.

On Sunday, Maidenhead play the next round of the National KO Cup, against Chosen Hill Colts from Gloucester. The kick off at Braywick is 2pm

Maids squad:
Chris Adam, Mitch Batten, Max Bishop, Mike Burnett, Alex Cannon, Dayne Ferrar, Peter Gull, James Henley, Andy Hogan, Chris Holden, Luke Knowles, Scott Lowden, Liam Lynch, James Makurumure, Tom Morgan, Brin Munn, Chris Parrott, Jack Robinson, Mike Skelton, Oliver Styles, Gareth Whyte.