Match report courtesy of the

Saturday 24th November 2007

THIS was a case of 'job done' for Maidenhead on Saturday as the result in this must-win clash was far more important than the performance - which was just as well. Both teams - languishing in the bottom five of South West 1 - failed to find any rhythm, and only a collective lack of confidence ensured that, although the error-count was high, the actual score wasn't.

Maids managed to go in at the break five points to the good, but it was the visitors who created a number of guilt-edged opportunities, but under some pressure, passing and handling errors let them down. Maids then hung on after the interval - as is so often the case they were unable to rouse themselves out of first gear - before finishing the stronger, albeit with 13 players.

Maids initially took the field with an unfamiliar set-up; second row Roko Babich having to prop, scrum-half Simon Carter on the wing, allied to old warhorses Piers Morgan and Paul Mueller who had been recommissoned for the task ahead. Backs Warren Abrahams, Jonny Hammond and Stuart Mackay were all unavailable. After a cagey start, Maids led 6-3 thanks to two penalties from Simon Swadling, with Rory Baker scoring for Coney Hill, before the only try of the half came the way of Maids. Deego Arends made up for an earlier missed tackle to grab possession, create some space, and then belt the ball downfield to chase. Although he was just short with his dive, the support included Babich who secured the touchdown. Swadling converted for 13-3.

But the visitors were lively enough to threaten and they duly scored the next 15 points - thanks to touchdowns from Nevaro Codin and Darren Carr, plus nine points from the boot of Baker. With 20 minutes remaining, Maids finally found some form and hit back with two tries of their own in six minutes. Alex Gallina went in at the corner after various phases, to level proceedings, and then the hosts went ahead when Arends again made the most of loose Coney Hill passing to also score by the flag.

The final period saw Maids appear the all-round stronger side, although deficiencies in the scrum were highlighted, but in truth the result of the clash was always in doubt until the final whistle blew. Especially when Mark Parkhouse and Mark Mueller were sin-binned within a minute of each other at the death, both for killing the ball. However, what was more important, was that Maids killed off the game, and gratefully grabbed the points.

Maidenhead: MacDonald, Arends, Cripps, Swadling, Carter (Cannon, 64), Ruddick, Edwards, Gull (O'Byrne, 45), Craig, Babich, Jones (Morgan, 55), Mueller, Gallina, Parkhouse, Riley.
Coney Hill: Knight, Carr, Overthrow (Barrett, 22), Brown, Codlin, Baker, Liggett, Pettigrew, Nicholls (Hall, 45), Correia, Riddell, Walsh (Cooper, 45), Hanna, Ballinger, Baker.