Farcical end to spirited cup final (22.04.05)

MAIDENHEAD lost their grip on a healthy lead ahead of the officials losing their grip on the rules during the Berkshire Cup final against Reading Abbey on Sunday.
An enjoyable match between two sets of good, honest club players, ended in farce as no-one seemed to know what to do when the match finished 20-20 after 80 minutes.
With some suggesting it go to extra-time, some the win should go to the away team and others that it go to a try-count, the referee and his assistants consulted mid-pitch with two Berkshire RFU officials before awarding the win to hosts Abbey.
Whatever the outcome of the stewards enquiry to come, this ending to the match did not do justice to either set of players, who had produced a hard-fought, gritty display in front of an appreciative crowd. The hosts took the lead on seven minutes with an unconverted touchdown under the posts, but Maids were soon ahead following a set-piece move from a line, finished off by skipper Luke Bullock.
Danny Walton converted and then knocked over a penalty for 10-5 at the break.
When Abbey restored parity on 52 minutes, a tense climax was on the cards.
However Maids then galloped to a 20-10 lead with 15 minutes remaining thanks to a Paul Burns touchdown, and a conversion and penalty from Walton.
Cheered on by their home support, Abbey applied the pressure at the end, and it came as no surprise when they squared proceedings.
In the tense final minutes Walton had a 40 yard penalty go wide, but this was nothing compared to the drama which followed.

FACE VALUE: Maids were focused on winning the Berkshire Cup on Sunday against Reading Abbey. Picture by Chris Forsey.