Match report courtesy of the

EDF National Trophy Round 2
Saturday 17th November 2007

Few gave Maids hope of coming away from Cheltenham with anything other than another heavy defeat on Saturday. Yes, Simon Edwards' side may have left the Cotswolds beaten, but they came home clutching something far more important than a cup win - their pride. Indeed without the late sin-binning of Mark Parkhouse while Maids held a slender lead they could have returned victorious.

Coming into the game on the back three confidence-sapping defeats, everything was stacked against Maids. Playing a side who had won four of their last five games, and then losing the toss which forced them to play uphill and into the wind as they tired in the second half - Old Pats' aptly named Everest Road ground summed up the magnitude of their task perfectly.

Maids' worst fears were realised as early as the seventh minute, pinned on their own line, scrum-half Gareth Edwards attempted to clear his lines but his kick was charged down by Old Pats' tireless number eight and captain James Pettigrew. Old Pats' scrum half Darren Moore made a half-break from the base of the ensuing ruck before flipping the ball back inside to the rampaging Pettigrew to score.

It looked as though it could be another painful afternoon for a side struggling to gain any structure of control in the game. But just as Maids looked ready to roll over they scored. South African winger Deego Arends collecting an interception and dancing in under the posts to breathe life into Maids¹ hopes. Abrahams converted and amazingly Maids were 7-5 ahead. All was not lost.

From the depths Maids rose with renewed purpose and vigour. Abrahams and Rob Nock exchanged penalties before Maids' cause was made even more difficult with the sin-binning of flanker Piers Morgan for persistently failing to roll away after the tackle. Nock floated over the resulting penalty to put the Hosts 11-10 ahead. But instead of crumbling, Maids once again dug deep and found brief inspiration.

Simon Swadling led the revival, his rampaging runs had persistently punched holes in the Old Pats' defence. He broke through again with four minutes of the half remaining, and once he sniffed the try line nothing was going to stop him. Abrahams converted to put Maids 17-11 in front. The confidence Maids have so often lacked this season seemed to surge through the team. Only superb defence from the hosts prevented Maids' forwards scoring a try of their own. But they weren't to be denied, as the ball went wide from a rock-solid line-out there were glimpses of last season's backs at their best, Jonny Hammond creating space for Stuart Mackay to race into the corner and ensure Maids led 22-11 at half-time.

As Maids turned around to face Old Pats, the wind and the slope, they knew they would face a second half onslaught - they were not to be disappointed. Old Pats scored two converted tries in 12 minutes, Matt Hurdle emerging from the bottom of a driving maul after a well-worked catch and drive before substitute James Allan raced over in the corner. Even the most optimistic Maids fans could have been forgiven for expecting a second half procession. But Maids had other ideas. A flood of changes at half-back injected the visitors with a new energy. Simon Carter and James MacDonald on at halfback set their line in motion, Arends collecting the ball wide on the right, chipping over the last tackler and gathering on the other side for a brilliant individual score. From nowhere Maids led 27-25.

But any hopes of hanging on for an unlikely victory were dashed with 10 minute remaining when Parkhouse was sin-binned for tackling Pettigrew in the air. Nock slotted the resulting penalty as Old Pats proceeded to punish Maids, scoring three tries in the final 10 minutes to win 45-27. The margin of victory was tough on Maids who who were at one stage reduced to 13 men when Abrahams limped off with a hamstring injury. For the first time in a while there was the solidity up front provided by Roko Babic and Alex Gallina, while Morgan, Greg Riley and Parkhouse worked tirelessly to secure ball at the breakdown. In the backs Swadling ran some clever lines, while Hammond stepped and worried Old Pats' midfield defence.

There were enough signs in this defeat to hint that Maids may be on their way back up - and for Simon Edwards that can't come quickly enough.

Maidenhead: Abrahams (Bowden, 80), Arends, Hammond, Swadling, Mackay, Ruddick, Edwards (Carter 62), Gull, Craig (Barber, 56), Blackwell, Babich, Gallina (Cheney, 62), Morgan, Parkhouse, Riley.