Feisty Maids fail to turn the tide (18.09.04)

A THOROUGHLY professional and feisty display from Maids failed to derail Barking at Braywick Park on Saturday, as the National Division 3 title-contenders bulldozed their way into the next round of the PowerGen Cup.
The visitors broke the deadlock inside three minutes, when they returned a kick out of defence, set up a platform inside Maids’ 22 and then sent outside centre Skurr over for a try in the corner. Montgomery missed the touchline conversion.
Barking continued to boss the game for the next 15 minutes, but Maids gradually battled their way back and deservedly equalised when Stuart Mackay slipped an inside pass to stand-in fullback Alex Greer, who burst through to score.
Unfortunately, parity lasted just four minutes, as the referee ignored an advantage to Maids and allowed Barking to strike out on the counter-attack.
Play was rapidly driven down into Maids’ 22, from where chunky prop Ansel barged over for a converted try.
Going into the break, Maids looked justifiably miffed to be trailing 13-5, as they had matched their guests in virtually every department.
Immediately after the restart they converted that frustration into passion, as they battered their way down the field to threaten Barking’s line.
Under real pressure, the visitors began to concede penalties, but with regular kicker Rob Hawkins out with an Achilles strain, Maids invariably went for catch-and drives, only to be held out by intelligent and sometimes illegal play by their guests. With the visiting No.4 having done enough to earn himself at least one red card – but without attracting even a yellow – it was something of a surprise when Allan Greene found himself sin-binned following the most minor of altercations with Barking’s No.8 Batho.
Shortly after, the rather elderly man in black dismissed Maidenhead lock Cormac O’Byrne, leaving Maids’ very short-handed in the tight-five .
With a clear weight advantage, Barking drove forward and propelled Walker over the line from close range for try No.3 on 60 minutes.
Five minutes later it was all over, when scrum-half Eaton cashed in on another forwards’ drive to dive over from two yards out.
Montgomery added the extras and Barking had an unassailable 24-5 lead.
To their great credit, and back to full strength, Maids raised their game for one last effort and drove play deep into enemy territory.
Penalties should have followed, as the Barking backs lined up two yards offside at every ruck and maul, something the referee was totally oblivious to.
However, Maids refused to give up the fight and were eventually rewarded for an afternoon of honest endeavour with a second try in injury time.
Fittingly it was the forwards who got the score, with O’Byrne getting the final touchdown.
Danny Martin’s conversion – the last kick of the match – made it 24-12, leaving Barking to celebrate a slightly flattering 24-12 win.

MUGGED: Hooker Sean Swartz takes a double hit against Barking on Saturday. Ref: 86477/5

Maidenhead: Greene, Swartz, Johnson, O’Byrne, Mueller, Windeyer, Kertesz, Bryant, Ayres, Ruddick, Young, Walton, Mackay, Fourie, Martin. Subs: Edwards, Blackwell, Wells, Greer, Jelski.
Barking: Ansel, Nel, Walker, Tyndell, Jones, Everitt, Cadby, Batho, Eaton, Mee, Hill, Mahoney, Skurr, Williams, Montgomery. Subs: Rate, Liebenburg, Bacchus, Ossonsani, Steyne.