Maidenhead 3rds 43 v Grove 2nds 7
Saturday 1st March 2008

On a beautiful day for rugby Maidenhead turned in an excellent show of running rugby.

There wasn't much indication of what was to come when the Maidenhead pack were pushed back at a rate of knots at the first few set scrums. But once they secured some ball and moved it along the backs the scores started to come. The first was a rather scruffy foot rush that set up Dave 'Teach' Williams for a try in the corner which wasn't converted but left Maidenhead 5 - nil up after about 10 minutes.

This was then followed by some good handling and support play that put Paul 'THE' Savage over near the posts for a try converted by Rob Wilkins.

By now the backs were beginning to get a taste for simple, open running rugby and immediately from the re-start the ball was passed wide to Lester 'The Man' Martin who ran down the wing to pop a pass back inside to Chris 'Razza' Richardson to score wide out. 17 - nil after about 15 minutes. Then a quick tap penalty was moved on to Tim 'Student' Robinson who jinked over for a try near the posts that was converted to put Maidenhead 24 - nil up. If this is the way that Maidenhead play, then the new laws being trialled in the southern hemisphere at the moment should suit them down to the ground.

Maidenhead didn't score again in the first half probably because a series of high tackles and a very late shoulder charge by Grove players, which the referee chose not to do anything about, threatened to turn the game into a bit of a brawl. There was a brief flurry of 'handbags', thanks to the usual suspects i.e. the front rows, but things rather petered out to half-time.

The biggest danger now for Maidenhead, who were comfortable up front, except for the line-outs and able to cut the opposition's back line almost at will, was complacency and any attempt to fling the ball about foolishly. It didn't happen and Maidenhead got another score almost immediately after the restart A classic wings try. Lester 'The Man' Martin got the ball out wide and set off down the touchline, swerved inside to fix the full-back and then out again to go round the outside for an excellent try. There was no way back for Grove now although they did set up a period of pressure for a period of 15 - 20 minutes but Maidenhead were well able to cope clearing their line with relative ease. The game then got a bit scrappy and neither side threatened to score until the Maidenhead forwards drove over for prop Paul Kingsley to score near the posts, converted by Dave 'Gooders' Goodman, followed a few minutes later by a good pick and drive, a short pass to Mike 'Barrel' Anthony who moved the ball on to Ed 'No Neck' Poulding who dotted down under the posts. The score was now 43 - 0 and although Grove got a consolation try right at the end to make the final score 43 - 7 it was an excellent all round performance by Maidenhead. However a much sterner test is looming on the horizon - Wallingford the league leaders.

Man of the Match: Johnny Wanklyn

Written By David 'the pencil' Anthony