MATCH REPORT
Maids nearly lose their grip on Hill (04.09.04) MAIDS survived a second half revival by a young Coney Hill team after enjoying a comfortable 19-0 lead at half-time. The Gloucestershire side started strongly and only good clearing up by scrum-half Ben Ayres prevented an early score. Ruddick took play into the Hill half with a long relieving touch-finder, and probing runs by Allan Greene and Ayres close to the scrum kept the hosts on the back foot. Jacques Botha was winning good ball in the lineout, but the Hill backs were up very quickly in defence to prevent Maids’ backs making progress. Colney were throwing the ball about at every opportunity and should have scored what would have been a good try from a succession of passes outside and inside, which foundered on the crucial long pass going astray which would have put them under the posts. However, Ruddick snaffled the ball and made a long counter-attack to take Maids to the Coney 22 and from an ensuing lineout Botha was driven over for a try, converted by Rob Hawkins. Continued pressure by Maids in the Hill 22 forced a short penalty which the dominant Maids pack rumbled over for Botha to touch down. Hawkins again converted. Now with the Maids pack well on top Botha fed Cormac O’Byrne direct from a lineout who crashed over for an outstanding try. Danny Walton and Ayres were both prominent in attack and defence and Ayres’ sniping close to the scrum always made ground and only good tackling kept him out. Walton, fast learning the finer points of No.7 play, then made a long break in midfield and probably had the legs to finish it off but chose to pass to the supports which were nailed by the Hill cover. Greene then received the first of three yellow cards awarded by the referee during the match for what were all trivial offences. However Maids crossed over at half-time leading by 19-0. After the break Coney continued running the ball and kicking for position rather than at goal. Down to 14 men Maids conceded a good try from a set scrum by second row Richards, converted by Barnett. Home wing-forward Balinger was then given a yellow card for a high tackle and Hawkins increased the lead with a long penalty. Mark Mueller then almost increased the lead but what should have been a certain try was somehow snatched away. Play then went down to the Maids line, where forward pressure from a Hill lineout and quick hands by the inside backs gave Codlin an opportunist try in the corner to make the score 22-12. Hill were coming more into the game with their forwards winning more and more ball and only good tackling by Ayres, Ruddick and Robin Bryant was keeping them out. However, the crucial score came when a loose ball was won in the Hill half and clever passing by Ruddick and Stuart Mackay put Dan Martin over at great pace in the corner to make Maids seemingly safe at 27-12. Ayres was then yellow carded for killing the ball and after a mix-up by two defenders in clearing an ill-directed long kick by the home side, Maids conceded a soft try, which bought the score to 27-17. The Hill forwards were getting stronger and with a winning fightback in their minds were retaining possession in the forwards, and only desperate tackling was keeping them out. The much vaunted Coney Hill backs, who had destroyed Chinnor the week before, were being outplayed by their forwards. Botha became Maids’ third yellow card for an alleged high tackle and Maids had to dig deep to keep out the home side who scented victory. With a minute to go prop Pettigrew barged his way over for an unconverted try, but the final whistle gave Maids a hard-earned win 27-22 against a side who played attacking rugby from the first whistle and will surely take some stopping in South West 2 West. There were positives to be taken from this match for Maids with strong performances from Ruddick and Ayres in defence and attack; an improved display by new hooker Sean Swartz; hard work as always by Greene who never wastes a ball, and good play in the second row by Mueller and O’Byrne, who had probably his best game in a Maidenhead jersey. Bryant started to come back to his best form and Botha was good in both lineout and around the field. The backs, all making some big hits in defence and generally sound, still need to rediscover that attacking spark. Maidenhead entertain national league side Barking at Braywick in the next round on Saturday, September 18. |
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