Slough II 2nds 5 v Maidenhead 3rds 20
Saturday 24th February 2007

“Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough, It isn’t fit for humans now”.

The ghost of John Betjeman was seen standing behind the Slough dead-ball line for most of the match, no doubt pleased that Maidenhead Thirds had completed what he and the Luftwaffe had started.

Conditions were excellent, a bright day, soft going and stiff breeze blowing from west to east so sending the pollution from the Slough Trading Estate over Langley rather than Upton. Only the hiss of the M4 provided a distraction from the unfolding drama.

Maidenhead kicked off with the wind and for the first 10 minutes or so gave a demonstration of how poor handling and poor passing, with particularly a complete breakdown of communication between the half backs results in most of the play being in your own 22 metres. But then! Good drive out by Mike Anthony supported by Lester Martin followed by another good break by John Sudbury down the middle resulted in the first period of Maidenhead pressure.

A delightful kick ahead into the corner by Gareth Williams was collected, flipped inside to Dan Evans who went over for a well worked try. 5-0 to Maidenhead but much against the run of play. The rest of the first half was spent mainly in the Slough half but a whole series of good, simple backs moves were let down by the last scoring pass being dropped, or tap penalties being run down bind allies. Just drawing an opponent and passing could have produced another couple of tries. Schoolboy errors?

Half time and things looked good for the second half. All that was needed was for more of the same i.e. just move the ball along the backs, give and take the passes and the scores would come. Almost straight from the kick-off Maidenhead spun the ball along the backs, Dan Evans ran an excellent line to cut inside his man, let it out to Lester Martin who chipped ahead, kicked on over the line and dropped on the ball for a very good try. 10 - 0 and this was looking like a canter. Oh no, it’s never that easy.

The next 20/25 minutes were spent in or around the Maidenhead 22 metre line with a number of drives by Slough getting to within a few metres of the line. Now Slough were winning line-outs with ease, penalties and relieving kicks to touch but into the wind were gaining no ground and the play was just coming straight back at Maidenhead. Against the wind you have to keep the ball in hand.

Eventually Maidenhead dragged themselves into the opposition half, a Slough player was sin binned and another straightforward backs move started by John Sudbury with a classic outside break, sent Dave Williams over in the corner. Funny how the scores come when the simple things are done well, passes not misplaced or dropped. The last 10 minutes were pretty scrappy until Slough drove their way over from about 10 metres out.

Then it was Maidenhead's turn to complete the demolition by winning a line-out 5 metres from the Slough line, driving on, picking and driving again until Tony Rawlings in an unlikely impersonation of a scud missile shot over the try line. Game over!!! 20 – 5 to Maidenhead.

Alex Mayers of Penn Motor Co. Man of the Match : Mike Anthony (well done, son!).

Your reporter’s Man of the Match : Dan Evans for his excellent running lines.

Written by David (Scoop) Anthony