Marlow B Tournament
10th April 2005by John Ireland
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Donaghue leads the way in tournament triumph
Windsor RFC’s Under 8’s Team won the Marlow ‘B’ Tournament on Sunday with captain Tom Donaghue’s tries capping an outstanding team performance. Unbeaten in their pool matches Windsor went on to beat a very good Henley team in the final with Donaghue scoring all 4 tries in a tense 20-15 victory. The key for Windsor throughout the day was a great defence, where Sammy Holden, Myles Thorley, Michael Ireland and Mathew Jones continually pressed teams back and forced errors, whilst the wing play of Loui Brogan, Joseph Brooke, Jack Wilkins and Jones again posed a constant threat. Windsor’s passing and support play was quite brilliant at times with quality long passes often taking out half of the opposing defence and tries resulting from most forays into the opponents half.
Windsor team in full: Tom Donaghue (capt), Loui Brogan, Joseph Brooke, Sammy Holden, Michael Ireland, Mathew Jones, Jake Perkins, Myles Thorley, Ben Tidey, Jack Wilkins.
Pool Match Summaries
Windsor 35 – Maidenhead 15
Slow to start after a long wait for their first match, Windsor conceded a try from the opening whistle but then tightened up their defence scoring 3 unanswered tries by half time. Coming as a substitute in the second half Ben Tidey scored with almost his first touch and the result was never in doubt from there.
Windsor scorers: Tom Donaghue (2), Loui Brogan (2), Joseph Brooke (2), Ben Tidey
Windsor35 – London Irish 25
Windsor’ toughest pool match by far as Irish made a blistering start quickly building a 15-5 lead. The team had to respond and did it in style with some wonderful running rugby involving the whole team. Jake Perkins playing his first match provided some great link play and added good tagging skills to the defence. Windsor overturned the deficit to lead 20-15 but Irish were never out of the game and the two teams traded tries until Windsor stretched the lead to 10 points through Tom Donaghue.
Windsor scorers: Tom Donaghue (3), Mathew Jones, Michael Ireland, Joseph Brooke, Jack Wilkins
Windsor 45- Marlow Lions 25
Despite again conceding an early try Windsor played some excellent Rugby with Mathew Jones scoring two very good tries, one from a knock-on by Marlow. The team built a 35-15 lead midway through the second half through strong running from Michael Ireland, Joseph Brooke, Jake Perkins and Tom Donaghue in particular who added five more tries to his tally.
Windsor scorers: Tom Donaghue (5), Mathew Jones (2), Jack Wilkins, Joseph Brooke
FINAL
Windsor 20- Henley 15
As in every pool game Windsor managed to again concede a try in the opening passage of play but fought their way back with good defence to level it at 10 points all by half time. A Tom Donaghue try from half-way and another after a good run by Joseph Brooke saw Windsor 20-10 ahead but the nerves were jangling for the team and its supporters as Henley scored their third try and then pressed for the equaliser. Myles Thorley stopped a determined run by a Henley player and the final whistle blew to the relief of players and coaches. Sammy Holden had another outstanding game in defence and provided a key pass for the second try but overall it was a team effort that saw Windsor lift the trophy at Marlow.
Windsor scorer: Tom Donaghue (4)
Windsor also won the ‘A’ Tournament in a repeat of last year’s success at Marlow where the same Windsor teams won the Under 7’s trophies. A remarkable achievement.