Mounts Bay 17 Maidenhead 18
MAIDENHEAD gate-crashed Mounts Bay's championship party on Saturday as they consigned the newly-crowned league winners to their first home defeat in two years and in doing so completed the double over their much-heralded rivals.
This was the classic game of two-halves and was influenced by the stiff breeze that blew directly down the ground. Maids made the best of the conditions to scrape past their rivals by a single point...more

Maidenhead 52 Reading 13
ISN'T it nice when everything just works. On Saturday it did, and Maids ensured that Reading were no more competitive than a sheep in an abattoir by producing a devastating eight-try display to destroy their in-form Berkshire rivals 52-13.
The sun may have shone brightly at Braywick but it was the 15 Maids who really dazzled, with a clinical, committed team display that proved too much for Reading...more

Oxford Harlequins 3rds 22 Maidenhead 3rds 5
The dictionary definition of a Harlequin is - "noun - name of a mute character in a pantomime" and it's a pity that they didn't play like that. But then if you look at the definition of Maidenhead in the dictionary it is - "noun - virgin" ......maybe I should just get on with the match report. ot able to put out a full side and with no subs available it was always going to be an uphill task for Maidenhead playing against the team immediately above them in the league...more

Bracknell 2nds? 50 Maidenhead 2nds 25
The 2s are having a serious identity crisis at the moment caused by the opposition in the last two games confusing them for the 1st team. The score line of 50-25 doesn't reflect the effort of the boys who were always up against a strong Bracknell squad using the maximum 1st xv players allowed and more coming off the bench...more

St Ives 21 Maidenhead 43
MAIDENHEAD produced a storming performance in the first 50 minutes to blow away their illustrious hosts on a windy day in St Ives on Saturday.
Not for the first time this season, Maids waited until they were away from Braywick before producing some of their most professional and entertaining rugby. Indeed such was the visitor's initial dominance that they led 36-0 after 47 minutes and looked to be on for a cricket score...more

Exeter Colts 41 Maidenhead Colts 6
Maidenhead Colts travelled to the magnificent Sandy Park stadium to play Exeter in the National Cup Plate on Saturday. It was always going to be tough encounter and simply looking at the scoreline of 41-6 you might think that Maids were well beaten by a better team on the day..more

Maidenhead 3rds 27 Grove 2nds 12
Nice day for a game of Rugby even if you don't have a full strength side out and need to use all your substitutes. Add to that a comfortable win and the beers taste even better afterwards in the clubhouse. It didn't start very well with Maidenhead losing the first set scrum against the head, but some strong running out of defence by the backs and particularly the full back, Chris Richardson coming into the line very effectively pushed the play down to the Grove 22 metres...more

Maidenhead 27 Bracknell 5
Maidenhead may well know how to win with a swagger but this season they have struggled to scrap wins. On Saturday this young side showed it is maturing nicely as Maids switched to plan B and won by getting down on their hands and knees and fighting for every point in the blood and the mud at Braywick. This 27-5 win over an in-form Bracknell side should go down as one of Maids most impressive of the season...more

Maidenhead 2nds 29 Windsor 2nds 5
Well it was always going to be a weekend of Rugby, just who had the nerves to stay the course. Maids 2xv were up against Windsor 2xv for the 3rd time this season and even though we had 2 wins under our belt, as always Windsor 2xv seemed up for the fight...more

Slough 2nds 5 Maidenhead 3rds 20
“Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough, It isn’t fit for humans now”.
The ghost of John Betjeman was seen standing behind the Slough dead-ball line for most of the match, no doubt pleased that Maidenhead Thirds had completed what he and the Luftwaffe had started...more

Cleve 41 Maidenhead 17
Maidenhead's play-off hopes were destroyed at The Hayfields on Saturday when a big, confident Cleve team finally hit their straps with a devastating 15-minute, four-try burst which knocked the stuffing out of the visitors. Maids had started this do-or-die clash well and were 17-10 to the good with 42 minutes on the clock, but in injury time they conceded two tries, and then another two within 10 minutes of the restart which saw them 38-17 behind and staring down the barrel with 30 minutes remaining...more

Maidenhead Colts 25 Aylesbury Colts 17
Maidenhead Colts had a satisfying win 25-17 over Aylesbury in the National Cup Plate match on Sunday. Maids showed great spirit and were always in control despite a late rally from Aylesbury which made the score closer than in should have been...more

Maidenhead 50 Basingstoke 8
FROM ridiculous to sublime in just a week. This frustratingly brilliant Maids side produced a devastating display to destroy Basingstoke 50-8 on Saturday. Last week Maids were truly awful. This week, they were everything they hadn't been against Oxford...more

Maidenhead 2nds 44 Witney 2nds 5
On a great day for rugby, Maids 2nds didn't disappoint the crowd! We played some cracking rugby as individuals and as a team. This game was again a top of the league clash with all the niggle, ready to go...more

Bracknell 3rds 18 Maidenhead 3rds 17
Having knocked Farnham off the top of the league last week Maidenhead were faced with the same task last Saturday. This time it was Bracknell, but it wasn’t the same story. This time it was a story of missed opportunities, dropped passes, forward passes, tries disallowed, and knock-ons, all after really good moves by the backs...more

Maidenhead 17 Oxford Harlequins 25
TALENT is a precious commodity in sport but as Maidenhead have discovered to their cost this season - it guarantees you nothing. A good crowd watched on, as a group of precociously gifted individuals were given a lesson in team rugby on Saturday as Maids were beaten 25-17 by Oxford Harlequins...more

Maidenhead 2nds 34 Chinnor 2nds 17
I think it would be fair to say this was a bit of a grudge match. Chinnor, one below Maidenhead 2nds in the table but equal on points, it was a must win game for us. The first 10mins was all Chinnor and Maids defence was top rate everyone putting there bodies on the line...more

Farnham Royal 0 Maidenhead 3rds 11
It was Bill Shankly who said “if they canna score they canna beat us”. NB : it sounds better spoken in a Scots accent! It was a beautiful afternoon, no wind, grassy pitch, ideal for running rugby but neither side were having any of that flashy stuff. This was 10 man rugby at it’s most attritional, and Maidenhead never took a backward step, and it won them the game...more

Reading Abbey 3rds 25 Maidenhead 3rds 5
A changed Maidenhead side travelled away to the home of Reading abbey on this cold and windy afternoon.
Maidenhead lost the toss which proved costly meaning they played the first half into the sun and a very strong wind, most of the first period was played within the Maidenhead half as any clearance attempts failed to get them to far out of trouble...more

Reading Abbey 14 Maidenhead 29
Without ever being at their best, Maidenhead eventually comfortably overcame stubborn opposition at Rosehill on Saturday. The match was dominated by a strong, chilly wind which blew virtually straight down the pitch for the entire 80 minutes and, unsurprisingly, the result hinged on which team dealt best with the conditions. Finally that was Maids, who showed their flair in the backs to cut a plucky Abbey defence to ribbons, and their strength and organisation in the scrums and lineouts...more

Redingensians 2nds 8 Maidenhead 2nds 19
Once again the conditions, threatened to soil the Rugby for all on the pitch and off. Luckily it didn't materialise and the weather came out fine like the Rugby! Maidenhead were very aware this had banana skin written all over it and all week during training we had talked about our game plan...more

Maidenhead 3rds 21 Thatcham 1sts 7
In a thrilling display of running rugby Maids won with a 21 to 7 defeat over Thatcham 1sts. The weather held out giving the home side the opportunity to show their true spirit running in three trys to one and dominating across the park...more

Banbury Colts 17 Maidenhead Colts 20
Maidenhead Colts kept their New Year resolution to return to winning ways at Banbury on Sunday. In blustery conditions they overcame the hosts in the National Colts Cup Plate competition, winning 17-20. In the first half the wind was in Maids favour and they took full advantage...more

Maidenhead 11 Weston-super-Mare 16
MAIDENHEAD were punished for not turning their dominance of possession and territory into points on Saturday, as they crashed to a 16-11 home defeat to Weston-super-Mare, a result that seems certain to have ended any hopes of reaching the play-offs. It was a strange game in many ways, firstly because of the conditions, which were appalling especially in the first half...more

Aylesbury 2nds 5 Maidenhead 2nds 36
After the Festive break it's always a worrying time as to how many pies were consumed over the break and how little fitness was done. With a good strength side we came up against a resilient Aylesbury wanting to reverse the run of poor form of last year...more

Berks Shire Hall 20 Maidenhead 3rds 19
Maidenhead put their bodies on the line with a true gutsy effort but failed in the dying moments going down 20 points to 19 to Shire Hall in appalling conditions. Maids conquered the conditions early on using ruck ball and short off loads giving tries to Tony Rawlings and Rob Wilkins...more

Chippenham 10 Maidenhead 3
Stuck in traffic on the M4 and having to run straight out on to the field was not an ideal situation in which to face a Chippenham side which had already won at Maidenhead. However, Maids started strongly and only good defensive kicking by home fly half Crockett kept the visitors at bay and Maids had a number of early passing movements in the backs which led to nothing, the final pass always going astray...more

Maidenhead 3rds 30 Aldermaston 5
Christmas came early for Maidenhead 3rd's as the final game of the year produced a superb display of team rugby with Maids going into the festive break winning 30 - 5 against Aldermaston 1sts...more

Maidenhead Colts 17 Amersham & Chiltern Colts 36
Maidenhead Colts suffered their first league defeat in 2 seasons losing 17-36 to Amersham & Chiltern on Sunday. Having been 17-0 up in the second half Maids became complacent and let Chiltern back into the game conceding six tries in 20 min...more

Maidenhead 20 Mounts Bay 34
In a relatively poor quality game compared to the high octane performance by Maidenhead the previous week, Mounts Bay made a number of changes for this cup match and finished comfortable winners. Missing a number of regular players through unavailability and injury, Maids started with makeshift full-back Pete Nesbit, Danny Martin at fly-half for injured skipper Ruddick and Stuart Mackay in the centre for the injured Max Willcocks...more

Redingensians 3rds 12 Maidenhead 3rds 22
Maids travelled away for an exciting 22 to 12 victory that had all the hall marks of Maids rising to the top of their game again. Redingensians had the bigger pack and were able to control the scrums and mauls which led to their opening try from the back of the scrum...more

Windsor Colts 10 Maidenhead Colts 29
Once again a postponed league match resulted in Maids' Colts playing a hastily arranged friendly. At least this week in was a nice sunny day in Windsor's Home Park ground. Maids had a comfortable win 29-10 with Mike Burnett scoring a hat-trick of tries...more

Maidenhead 24 Mounts Bay 14
Maidenhead scaled a mountain and put down their marker for the season with the wholesale dismantling of previously unbeaten league leaders Mounts Bay at Braywick on Saturday. The Cornish team (the semi-professional arm of Penzance & Newlyn) came into the match with a record of played 10, won nine, drawn one, lost none, and were unbeaten for two years, but left with their tails between their legs after being thoroughly outplayed in all aspects of the match. Most notable was the host's ferocious tackling, which saw them pin the visitors in their own half time and again, eventually forcing them to kick away possession to gain territory...more

Harwell 22 Maidenhead 3rds 26
Maids bounced back from the previous week's surprise defeat against Didcot with a battling four-point win against a powerful Harwell on Saturday. The home side twice came from behind in the first half with tries from flankers Steve Bourne and Rob Wilkins...more

Wasps 29 Maidenhead Colts 21
Maidenhead again showed their strength in depth when they played a friendly game at Wasps last Sunday. With 10 changes from the previous week's Nat Cup squad and most of the rest playing in different positions, Maids lost 29-21 in what proved to be an enjoyable game despite the appalling conditions...more

High Wycombe 2nds 3 Maidenhead 2nds 32
With the gauntlet laid down by the 1sts last week, the 2s also had a point to prove. With players coming back from injury, it was great to see the system working as it should in all clubs with players turning out for the 2nds as they come back from injury ready to compete to get their 1st team place back...more

Maidenhead 3rds 14 Didcot 33
Maidenhead 3rd XV delivered a poor performance on Saturday going down 33 to 14 to bottom of the league Didcot. Maids under achieved through out the game except for a few touches of brilliance that have seen them win their last three fixtures and storm up the table...more

Maidenhead Colts 20 Old Redcliffians 37
There was very little to say after this defeat by Old Redcliffians in the third round of the NKO Cup. It was undoubtedly the most catastrophic display by the Maids at any age group for many seasons, and Old Reds deservedly went through to the next round...more

High Wycombe 0 Maidenhead 53
Maidenhead strolled to a nine-try rout of hosts High Wycombe in the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup on Saturday without ever really being at their best. In a poorly refereed match, the hosts had their moments, especially just after the break, tried to run it, moved the ball around neatly and looked solid in the scrum ­ and they certainly never gave up...more

Maidenhead Colts 20 Bracknell Colts 10
Maidenhead Colts moved to the top of the BBO League as they continue the defence of their title but they never had things their own way against a much-changed, newly-sponsored Bracknell side with a raft of good new players. Indeed, although Maids won by 20-10 it was only 13-10 with 10 minutes remaining...more

Maidenhead 23 Chippenham 29
Maidenhead will be kicking themselves for losing a game which they had the armoury to win but failed to take many scoring opportunities, allowing a lively Chippenham team to earn an eventually deserved win. With their talent behind the scrum, Maids should have been able to wrap this game up and had enough ball to have done so...more

Aldermaston 1sts 12 Maidenhead 3rds 27
Resurgent Maids continued their climb up the league table with a comfortable 27-12 victory at Aldermaston on Saturday.
Another solid performance from the forwards, well-marshalled by scrum-half and man-of-the-match Dave Thomas, provided the platform for the sprightly backs to work their magic, taking an early stranglehold with tries from wingers Lester Martin and David Williams...more

Weston-super-Mare 15 Maidenhead 26
IN-FORM Maidenhead finally got a monkey off their back with a historic first victory at Weston on Saturday. The success was a notable scalp for the visitors and propelled them up to a heady third place in South West 1. Maids made the worst possible start when a speculative Weston high kick in the second minute was fielded by Stuart Mackay but his long awkward pass to Max Wilcocks was dropped allowing home winger Madamombe to pick up and walk in under the posts...more

Chosen Hill Colts 10 Maidenhead Colts 14
Maidenhead went through to the next round of the National KO Cup with a win over Chosen Hill. This victory puts them though to the third round and they will be grateful to be at home in the next round, to Old Redcliffians – Maids have had to win away twice in the West Country. Head coach John Evans is delighted that his team have come through...more

Maidenhead 47 Reading Abbey 0
Maidenhead had far too many gears for Reading Abbey at Braywick on Saturday, maintaining a clean sheet while piling on seven mouth-watering tries. The visitors ­ who had conceded 90 points the previous week ­ showed plenty of fight and at no stage gave up, despite the pummelling they received...more

Maidenhead 3rds 74 Berkshire Shire Hall 19
Maids' 3rds produced their best performance of the season to turn round an early 14-0 deficit and record a comprehensive 74-19 victory with some scintillating 15-man rugby against Shire Hall at Braywick on Saturday. A fantastic display from the Maids pack paved the way...more

Oxford Harlequins 21 Maidenhead 34
Maidenhead overcame a tricky hurdle by soundly beating hosts Oxford Harlequins on Saturday thanks to a decent comeback against a side who had some good early season results behind them. Maids made a very slow start and conceded two early penalties by home full-back Davies, followed by a try from a lineout to be an ominous 11-0 in arrears...more

Banbury Colts 6 Maidenhead Colts 43
Maids were completely undaunted at Banbury. Inspired by a large core of last season's winning side and a superb crop of newcomers, they won a seven-try victory. This was very satisfying as Banbury were superb opponents, they played with power and commitment and spirit, and Maids were very impressed by their welcome on and off the field...more

Basingtoke 34 Maidenhead 30
A SLIGHTLY lacklustre Maidenhead snatched defeat from the jaws of victory away to local rivals Basingstoke on Saturday.
Having nipped into a seemingly decisive lead in the final minute of normal time, a telegraphed pass from No.8 Greg Riley gifted Basingstoke flanker Simon Appleby an easy interception and the freedom of the pitch. His lightning break drew in the last vestiges of the defence, before the move was finished off by flying winger Karl Buttle...more

Widden OB Colts 24 Maidenhead Colts 15
Maidenhead Colts showed their strength in depth when for the second week running they took a long trip to Gloucestershire. With 13 changes from the side that started against Stroud the previous week, they took on Widden Old Boys in a highly entertaining game in which the lead changed several times...more

Maidenhead 42 Cleve 33
A fit, fast and effective Cleve outfit were left battered and bewildered at Braywick on Saturday, as a depleted Maidenhead side showed them the meaning of fighting spirit.
Having romped to a 30-point win at Basingstoke the previous week, the Bristol side oozed confidence in the opening exchanges and looked set to claim another valuable scalp, as good handling, indifferent tackling from Maids and some questionable refereeing gifted them a 10-0 lead with just 13 minutes played...more

Stroud Colts 20 Maidenhead Colts 21
In the first round of this season’s Colts’ National Knockout Cup, Maids travelled deep into the heart of Gloucester rugby country, taking on its County Champions, as such one of best age group sides in the South West. They did very well indeed to come back victorious, pulling back from 20 - 3 down with 20 minutes to go, to beat a fine Stroud side 20 - 21...more

Bracknell 16 Maidenhead 26
An enjoyable game of rugby was made all the more pleasureable by a comprehensive victory for Maidenhead over Berkshire rivals Bracknell on Saturday.
In short, Maids were just superior in every department and the cumulative effect was a solid performance and revenge for Bracknell¹s one-point win over Maids in the cup last season. The keys were a display in the pack where technique and brains overcame weight and brawn, while Maids backs showed the sort of handling that comes with practice and confidence...more

Maidenhead Colts 72 Reading Colts 0
Maidenhead Colts began the defence of their BBO championship with an impressive 72-0 win over Reading in their first competitive match of the season.
Despite missing some key players, it was not so much the score-line but the quality and depth of the performance that pleased the Maidenhead's coaches and supporters with 9 different players touching down...more

Maidenhead 28 St Ives (SW) 23
MAKESHIFT Maids had a close shave in their opening home game of the campaign at Braywick on Saturday, when only the final whistle prevented a Lazarus-esque comeback by the Cornishmen. With an injury list reading like a phone directory, coach Simon Edwards was forced to field new arrival Max Willcocks in the centres, alongside usual fly-half Mark Ruddick, while Danny Walton and Colt Alex Cannon took the wings...more

The Summerleaze Maidenhead RFC Colts' Sevens Tournament
The fifth Summerleaze Maidenhead Colts Sevens took place on Sunday in unexpectedly good weather, which added to a day of exciting rugby.
Despite teams coming from far & wide, the final was an all Berkshire affair between hosts Maidenhead and late entrants Newbury. In was a close game throughout but Maids had expended too much energy in the semi-final and Newbury ran out winners 22-12...more

Previous season's stories