Maidenhead Colts
72 v Reading Colts 0
Sunday
17th September 2006
Maidenhead Colts began the defence of their BBO championship with an impressive 72-0 win over Reading in their first competitive match of the season.
Despite missing some key players, it was not so much the score-line but the quality and depth of the performance that pleased the Maidenhead's coaches and supporters with nine different players touching down.
Prior to kick-off Maids were not so confident, with the new squad coming off the back of a patchy performance in a training game against London Welsh the week before, in which they gave 28 players run out. Reading on the other hand were high on a 79-0 defeat of Wallingford. However as they were soon to discover there is a big difference between the bottom and top of the BBO league.
Any doubts Maids coaches had were soon dispelled when Alex Cannon, fresh from his 1st XV SW1 debut the day before, crossed the line in the first minute. Chris Adam, making the move from scrum-half to centre, was next to score followed by county winger Jimmy Makurumure.
Another senior player, big Joe Thomas, showed he was still fresh from the previous day, as he barged over the try line and new recruit Mike Burnett demonstrated his speed on the wing to make it 29-0.
Berkshire U18s' James Henley's move from winger to flanker proved to be inspired as he added the sixth try.
Adam added another before the final try of the half, which was an all front-row affair. Tom Morgan and Pat Sweeney interchanged passes before Morgan touched down in the corner to take them into the break 50-0 up.
With the game clearly won Maids used all their subs in the second-half with Scott Lowden making a welcome return with a try. Thomas and Cannon added to their tally with another debutante Chris Holden scoring to make the final score 72-0.
Mention should be made of Reading who were excellent opponents and who played with grit and determination. Despite the score they never dropped their heads and always fought hard, never yielding an inch freely. To their defence there aren't many sides who could have withstood this onslaught.
Maidenhead are next in action in a National Cup match away at Stroud this Sunday.
Maids squad:
Chris
Adam, Mitch Batten, Mike Burnett, Alex Cannon, Peter Gull, James Henley,
Andy Hogan, Chris Holden, Drew Jones, Luke Knowles (c), Scott Lowden,
Liam Lynch, Jimmy Makurumure, Pat McSweeney, Tom Morgan, Brin Munn, Chris
Parrott, Mike Skelton, Joe Thomas, Sam Stefan, Olly Styles, Gareth Whyte.
