Match report courtesy of the

Saturday 3rd November 2007

It had to be seen to be believed how Maidenhead managed to throw away this match, but they did, in 30 error-strewn minutes in the second half. Beforehand, this contest was expected to be close, but on the day it should not have been as Maids worked their way into a position from where they should not have lost, having stifled a Weston outfit which had put 55 points on Cleve the previous week.

Although not at their best, Maids had done the basics so that come half-time they led 10-0 thanks to a touchdown from Simon Cripps, who was first to react to a good break by the excellent Alex Greer, and a penalty and conversion from Warren Abrahams. Seven minutes after the re-start Maids made it 15-0 when, after various phases, the ball was flung out to Jonny Hammond who muscled his way over the line in the corner. A difficult conversion was missed, but this mattered little as the hosts were well on top.

Weston had arrived at the ground just 30 minutes before kick-off, because of a flat tyre to their coach, and it appeared with half an hour remaining they were still on it, but that was all about to change. Instead of playing it safer and tighter, and grinding out the win, Maids went into almost a sevens style of play. This opened up the match and allowed Weston to get back in. Indeed, Weston only enjoyed three real chances all match - from which they scored three tries, all of which were gifted to them.

On 54 minutes a handling error from Hammond finished with the ball being hacked on, and Weston's Paul Sprague winning the chase. Three minutes later it was 15-14 when a speculative punt found Maids fullback Abrahams out of position, and with the ball allowed to bounce, it fell for the rapidly advancing Chris Crichton who couldn't believe his luck. He touched down, and Armstrong bagged his second conversion. Neither team seemed to know how to handle this change of events, and both seemed intent on throwing it away, but it was Maids who succeeded when, on 77 minutes, a Hammond clearance was sliced to an opponent. Two missed tackles on the flank then allowed Harry Warman to support the counter-attack and touch down. Armstrong converted for 15-21.

As the match reached its frenetic conclusion, Maids grabbed their fourth try when Stuart Mackay went in at the corner after the Weston defence was stretched. But the conversion from wide out proved too tricky for Abrahams, and Weston sealed a remarkable comeback with a last minute penalty from Armstrong.

It will have been a demoralising setback for Maids, not because it was two points lost, but because it was completely self-inflicted.

Maidenhead: Abrahams, Greer, Cripps (Arends, 56), Hammond, Mackay, Ruddick, Edwards, O¹Byrne, Craig, Blackwell, Babich, Mueller, Parkhouse, Kertesz, Riley. Subs not used: Gallina, Greene.
Weston-s-Mare: Warman, Crichton, Madamombe, Main, Sprague, Armstrong, Hember, Smith, Burge, Hunt, Richards, Russell, Cook, Hobbs, Sparks. Subs: Lavender, Tuitupou, Bennett.