Harwell 22 v Maidenhead 3rds 26

Saturday 2nd December 2006

Maids bounced back from the previous week's surprise defeat against Didcot with a battling four-point win against a powerful Harwell on Saturday.

The home side twice came from behind in the first half with tries from flankers Steve Bourne and Rob Wilkins, with the latter converting his own score to give the visitors, sponsored by the Penn Motor Company, a slender 12-10 lead at the break.

A converted try restored Harwell's lead early in the second period but Maids hit back with a superb counter-attack when free-running full-back Ed Poulding glided past several tacklers before slipping the ball to centre Gareth Williams, who touched down under the posts to give Wilkins an easy kick for the extra points.

Maids extended their lead when Bourne made a blind-side break from a scrum and winger Lester Martin and Poulding tore past the Harwell defence for the full-back to score. Wilkins again supplied the conversion.

Although Harwell closed the gap with another unconverted try, some desperate defence by the visitors, led by No 8 John Wanklyn and D & P Motors of Wooburn Green man-of-the-match No 3 Tony Rawlings, saw Maids hang on for a hard-fought victory.

Written By Dave Goodman