Slough 2nds 3 v Maidenhead 3rds 62
Saturday 5th January 2008

The game started with a bitterly cold wind blowing from the East. Rugby is not easy in these conditions, or at least it shouldn't be. How come then Maidenhead ran out winners by 62 points to 3? The answer is that Slough didn't seem to want to tackle anybody moving at more than a brisk walking pace and eventually after 10 minutes it dawned on Maidenhead that simply passing the ball down the backline and running at the Slough backs was going to produce tries. Plus a couple of push-over tries from 5 metres at set scrums. If only every week it was this easy, but then Maidenhead are top of the league.

There probably isn't room on the club website to describe all the tries so let's just say - excellent jumping at number 2 in the line-out by Michael Anthony and by Johnny Wanklyn in the middle gave Maidenhead an excellent supply of ball - good work by the front five in getting two pushover tries in the first 20 minutes - long and safe touch kicking out-of-hand by John Sudbury - lots of quick turn-over ball secured by the back row - a couple or well run-in tries by Lester Martin (or was it three) after quick passing from the rest of the backs - a try of great rarity and beauty from Dan Robinson as the rest of the team looked on in shock never having suspected that he could trot that fast - Rob Wilkins converting 6 of the 10 tries for a success rate of 60% (which is the same as Johnny Wilkinson got in the World Cup and lots of yardage gained by taking quick penalties.

The only thing that Slough bettered Maidenhead in was yellow cards, getting two to Maidenhead's one. And one of those two was at the suggestion of the Slough captain. Now you don't see that very often at Old Trafford.

All-in-all a good days work but away to Oxford Quins in a couple of weeks' time will be a different proposition.

Reporter: David (the senior pencil) Anthony.

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