Windsor 1st XV 17 v Beaconsfield 16

In an error-strewn game, Windsor produced a strong second half performance to overcome a shocking start which saw them go 13-0 down in as many minutes.

Windsor were caught offside twice in the opening five minutes and found themselves 6-0 behind as a result. Things got worse when Beaconsfield kicked ahead and fielded a fortunate bounce to run in unopposed. The conversion took the home advantage to 13-0 and the visitors had it all to do.

Shocked into action, Windsor started to move the ball well and came back into the game when Paul Nunn’s well-timed pass put James Driscoll over wide out. The winger’s conversion of his own try was good and Windsor had reduced the deficit to 13-7.

Minutes later, Beaconsfield seemed certain to score from a good blind side break but knocked on. The home side were all over Windsor at this stage but missed a good chance to go further ahead when a penalty drifted wide. Windsor earned another reprieve just before the interval when another penalty struck an upright but the signs of a Windsor revival were promising with their forwards starting to win plenty of ball and the backs looking adventurous.

The second half opened with some scrappy exchanges and a slight altercation which brought a yellow card for each side. Windsor were starting to look more fluent but it was Beaconsfield who went closest. A score seemed certain but Paul Britton’s great covering tackle saved the day. However, with 20 minutes gone Beaconsfield increased their lead to 16-7 with another penalty.

Ray Cox battled through an injury but was eventually replaced by Alex Lockhart. Windsor pressed hard and eventually the pressure paid off when a superbly executed catch and drive from a lineout 10 metres out gave hooker Jon Davy a try. Driscoll’s conversion was again unerring and Windsor were only two points adrift at 16-14 towards the end of normal time.

Windsor attacked but knocked on, then a clever cross kick was almost gathered near the home line. When Windsor kicked from half way into the Beaconsfield 22, the kicker was tackled late and a penalty awarded where the ball landed. Under pressure, Driscoll was coolness itself and never-say-die Windsor were ahead for the first time at 17-16. With several minutes of injury time to play, the game was far from over and Beaconsfield mounted several attacks but Windsor held out with some solid defence to finish narrow winners.

The Savills Man of the Match was Windsor skipper, Ed Bell.

Windsor: Daplyn; Morgan, Nunn, Strauss, Driscoll; Van Terheyden, Corbett; Stewart, Davy, Cox, McGurk, Hire, Flisher, Bell, Britton. Subs: Hayhurst, Ndewere, Lockhart.