Maidenhead RFC make most of late advantage
Sportsdesk • Published 22 Dec 2011 16:00
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By Ted Goodhew
MAIDENHEAD just about deserved to win this high-quality South West One East encounter, fought with no holds barred but in good spirits.
The result was in doubt right to the end when a rather bizarre Maidenhead try stretched their lead and robbed Reading of a bonus point.
With 65 minutes gone, Reading were holding on well to a three-point lead. They were having to defend for long periods but their defence, much improved from the previous week, looked capable of holding out. They should indeed have scored a try of their own when full-back Andy Tweedie made a great break but just failed to link up with two supporting runners. A converted try then would have put them 10 points clear and probable winners.
Close games like this turn on such things and it was Readings misfortune which turned the tide for the visitors in the 66th minute. Berkshire referee Justin Sampson played advantage for Reading after a knock-on but no advantage came as Rob Sweeney's cross kick fell invitingly into the hands of a Maidenhead back. Sampson called advantage over and the move ended with a Maidenhead try, giving them the lead (15-13) for the first time.
There was still time for a Reading recovery but it was the visitors who scored again in stoppage time when the Reading defence failed to deal with a kick into their in-goal area and substitute Alex Barnett touched down under the noses of several Reading defenders.
Reading could not have started the game better as skipper Scott Heirene, who had a great game throughout, touched down after a forward drive. Sweeney had a fine game at fly-half but his goal-kicking was not quite up to his usual standard and the conversion was the first of several misses from his usually immaculate boot.
The visitors came back with an 11th- minute try from flanker James Emmanuel but four minutes later Reading were back in front. The Reading forwards drove the ball on one flank and when it was passed out, winger Mark Roca picked up a long pass around his ankles and scored in the corner. It took Maidenhead just five minutes to reply when speedy scrum half Elliott Brown scored a fine solo try.
With 20 minutes gone and four tries already scored, the defences tightened up and the only other score before half- time was a well-struck Sweeney penalty. Then came the hard-fought second half which saw the Maidenhead pack marginally on top, and the visitors took their chances to win the game.
Before the match a minute's silence was held in remembrance of former Reading RFC vice president Lorcan Mullally, who passed away last week. This was a game he would have enjoyed.
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