Old Patesians vs Maidenhead

Old Patesians – 46
Maidenhead –5

Referee – Peter Lewis

Despite a scratchy first half performance with so many scoring chances wasted Old Patesians eventually overwhelmed Maidenhead at Everest Road.

Lying at the bottom of the National Three South West, Maidenhead were promoted in the last campaign but with only one win under their belts this season and twelve points adrift from their relegation rivals they were determined to give second placed Pats a tough game.

Pats were aware that tougher tests lied in wait and had rung the changes with the introduction of Mike Wilcox and their talismanic prop forward Chris Downes to the fray after a long lay-off with a career ending neck injury.

Pats started well when Wilcox landed a super deep touch kick up the slope and five metres from the Maidenhead line. Second-row James Stickland poached the visitors ball on their own throw and a rapid three-quarter movement resulted in a try for winger Chris Howell converted by full-back James Markey. It was soon very evident that Pats were superior in all aspects of the forward battle.

Their line-out and scrum ball was assured and the back row trio were hungry at the break down to ensure quality second phase possession. Prop forwards James King and Downes made if their business to be the first receivers and together with their impressive no eight Brett Harvey bashed big holes in the Maidenhead Midfield.

Unfortunately when the ball was released to the backs the forward was released to the backs the forward impetus was lost in a sea of indecision. Despite almost one hundred percent possession and total territorial domination the ball was too often lost in contact or went to ground when a score seemed certain. Pats scant reward for thirty minutes of play where they had laid siege deep behind the Maidenhead 22 was a meagre three points for a Markey penalty goal.

Pats had butchered and squandered so many scoring chances that they seemed almost surprised when at last everything clicked and Howell rounded off a sweeping move for his second try in the top left hand corner.

Pats were unconvincing in a ragged first half but led by 15 points to nil at the break. Its amazing what a suck on an orange and a blistering from head coach Dave Pointon can do as Pats were a different outfit after the interval.

They swarmed down the slope with Harvey leading the charge and blood replacement Adam Seager scoring a try in the first minute. Club captain Seager, playing his first game for three weeks after his wedding and honeymoon lacked the energy to land the conversion.

Playing down the hill Pats continued to control the set pieces and mauled and rucked their way into their favourite left hand corner. After his long break Downes was understandably feeling the pace of the game and unexpectedly received the ball when he was taking a breather in the middle of the park. He was in the clear and galloped over a try between the uprights, converted by Seager.

Maidenhead were beaten but not demoralised and they surprised the Pats with a spirited drive up the touch line and a well deserved try for Jamie Plumer. Pats replied to this temporary reversal in style. Backs and forwards linked at pace to set up Geraint Davies, Will Topps and a third for Howell. Markey continues to impress with the boot and added two conversions to seal a comfortable victory.

By Bob Ellis

Man of the match – Brett Harvey