Windsor U14's v Maidenhead - League
St George's Day 2006by Dr FT Bosh (With A J Turner)
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When the Windsor U14’s failed to beat a committed Newbury side 2 weeks ago, they left themselves with a mountain to climb if they wanted to realise their League ambitions and finish top of the table. That mountain was, to not only beat arch league rivals Maidenhead, but to score no less than 10 try’s in the process, to ensure they had a better “tries scored” difference than current League Champions Redingensians. So on a wet, grey St George’s Day, in the shadow of a Windsor Castle that was celebrating the Queen’s 80th birthday, the Windsor faithful gathered with a mixture of hope and trepidation to watch their heroes perform for the last time this season. Maidenhead are a proud and determined side and whilst this has not been their best season, they were more than capable of thwarting Windsor’s hopes.
The game was a tour de force by the Windsor team. Feeling they had let themselves down in the Newbury fixture, they were in a very focused and determined frame of mind and had a clear picture of their objectives and how to achieve them. From the outset the forwards dominated the opposition pack, recycled phase after phase and allowed the three-quarters to turn their possession into scores. Maidenhead fought all the way and it was only the last play of the game that brought Windsor the, what had seemed at the outset, almost impossible tenth try to seal, not only a great victory on the day, but the Berkshire U14 League title.
Windsor had early possession and Maidenhead tackled well, coming up quickly to put pressure on the Windsor three-quarter line. After several phases of this, a well weighted kick over the top from fly half Sam Yeandle put the Maidenhead three-quarters in no-mans-land. Chris Laidler, playing in the centre, ran on to the ball, gathered well and then in to score Windsor’s first. Windsor kept up a consistent level of pressure. Alex Devereux’s forwards were awesome in the loose, with prop Stijn Hanson and Devereux himself scrapping for every piece of possession. With the pairing of Joel Turner at scrum half and Yeandle at fly half looking very fluent and positive the backs were always on the front foot and looking dangerous as they moved forward. A highly motivated Josh Casey took what appeared to be a “regulation” pass inside his own half and turned it into a score. His opposite number was up quick and therefore easier to sidestep. With over 50 yards to go, Casey outstripped the cover and scored under the posts. He was soon on the scorecard again when winger Russell Chester ran around the Maidenhead defensive line and made for the corner, cut off by the full back, he committed his man and passed back inside to the supporting Casey for Windsor’s third. The more optimistic on the sidelines started to feel that the ten try’s were achievable.
The forwards continued to dominate. At lineouts, hooker Cai Harrold’s impeccable throwing in, made the job of securing ball a lot easier for 2nd row Jack Clemance and Sam Windmill and with the three-quarters realising that they had the edge over the Maidenhead flanks Joel Turner made sure the ball was spun out quickly. Having just made a try, Chester got in a beauty of his own when he broke his marker’s tackle and was too quick for the full back, getting in under the posts.
Before half time Windsor scored twice more. Another strong run from Casey saw him about to be tackled. His grubber kick on was weighted perfectly and directed away from the defence, he dropped on it to score his hat trick. Dominic Murray, returning to the side after a lengthy lay off, took a pass from Casey just before half time and used his power and speed to get round his tackler and ran 65 yards to score.
So with the game beyond doubt at half time, it now became a question of whether Windsor could keep sufficient pressure on and achieve 4 more scores. In the second half Maidenhead made it clear it was not going to be easy. Revitalised by the break, they came out very strongly in the pack and took the game to Windsor. The Windsor pack “bought in” to the challenge and decided to go head to head with the visitors pack. On any other day, this might have been OK, but with time ticking away and the forward battle tying up the ball the title looked to be slipping away.
When the pack finally acquiesced to Turner’s polite enquiry as to whether they had finished playing with the backs ball he was able to spin a pass to Yeandle that had the Windsor fly half moving forward at pace. A set of sidesteps, that put some on the sideline in mind of Phil Bennett in his pomp, saw him jink through the Maidenhead line and score a superb solo try.
Two more tries one each from wingers Murray and Chester, the second of which had the Windsor faithful cheering as Chester showed an extraordinary turn of pace, put Windsor with in an arms reach of their goal.
As you’d expect Maidenhead dug in and camped themselves in Windsor’s 22 and time started to run out. With the St John’s Ambulance men hovering around the Windsor coaching staff on the off chance of cardiac arrest, Maidenhead strayed offside. Casey was first to the ball, took the kick quickly and set off for League glory. Breaking the first tackles and then sweeping over 70 yards up field, he was unstoppable, even if anyone could have caught him. It seemed appropriate that the player who had been unable to play when Windsor lost to Newbury (due to a hand injury), but has been a major force in their success this season, should score the try that secured Windsor the League title.
The full time whistle went after the conversion and the players, coaches and Windsor faithful retired to the bar to dissect the season and savour the moment.
RESULT:
Windsor 56 Maidenhead 0
Scorers:
Tries: Laidler, Casey (4), Chester (2), Murray (2), Yeandle.
Conversions: Laidler (3)