Maids share county title (17.06.05)

An RFU hearing in London on Monday night upheld Maidenhead Rugby Club's appeal against a Berkshire RFU interpretation of county cup regulations. As a result Maids will share the Berkshire Cup with Reading Abbey. The two teams drew 20-20 in the final in April but instead of playing extra time, the officials awarded the cup to Abbey on tries scored. On hearing the news of his successful appeal, club chief executive Simon Edwards said: "I'm absolutely delighted, but it should never have gone to the RFU."

"Berkshire should have sorted it out. It was a ridiculous mistake to make. How on earth they could justify that decision when every other round had gone to extra time. The competition organisers let themselves down." Admitting many clubs might have just accepted the county's decision, Edwards said he had felt compelled to follow his complaint to its conclusion for the sake of the players.

He said: "It was never a personal thing for me, it just became a point of principle.

"The 2nds had an outstanding season and I wasn't going to let a ridiculous decision ruin it."

One possible outcome of the appeal might have been to order a replay of the final, but Edwards was content to share the cup. He said: "We would have preferred to win it at the time, and I think we would have if it had gone to extra time. But the decision to share it is the right one."

Edwards added: "I have never had an issue with Abbey. They did nothing wrong. "But their six months is nearly up now, so let's have the cup." Second team manager Chad Miller added: "I'm really, really delighted. "We were league winners and now we have the Berkshire Cup as well. It's all credit to the players. "Everyone stepped up to the mark for that match, and the team effort was absolutely fantastic."