Berkshire Shire Hall R.F.C.

We always knew we would be in for a hard game at Maidenhead and with 15 men the job was about to get a lot tougher too. Despite this there was a good mood in the camp and all seemed ready to take up the challenge.

Maidenhead’s skipper was disappointed when our own skipper Brown declined their kind request to be able to play all eight substitutes for themselves but advised they were welcome to lend us a player so they could at least get on the park. Maidenhead skippers response…”as they were wanting to make up the points between Wallingford and ourselves we probably won’t do that”…thus providing Shire’s skipper with all the motivational material needed for a pre-match team talk.

The game started evenly and there were no signs Shire had to fear a “point gap” recovery from Maidenhead. Scrummaging was solid, well controlled by the experienced Jerry Godfrey at the back. Line out ball from Istvan was excellent and Shire had a platform at least to work off.

Tregurtha filled in at fly half and between Joles and himself made some good yardage up the middle of the pitch. Brown made some darts around the fringes and kicked for good position and it was not long before Maidenhead knew they were in a game.

Disappointing then that Shire were penalised at the scrum and a quick tap penalty caught most of Shire napping with Maidenhead scoring from outside the away side 22. 7 – 0. Committed to “having a go” left Shire a little exposed at times in defence and Maidenheads second try saw their winger run half way across the pitch with some blistering pace to score back under the posts, 14 – 0.

Half time credit went to the forwards and the backs recognised what ever chances they got they had to take if Shire were to push for a W. Good work in the loose from Evans, Pearce, Cooper and Griffiths provided good ball again and with Doc bellowing at people to get up the forwards continued to match Maids. Carson made his return to the league on the blind side and proved useful around the park with the added aggression! Shire then let in a soft try with some confused defence not knowing where the try line was (Skipper’s fault). 21 – 0.

However Shire continued to make inroads with Malone and Fothergill showing some good running and new boy Adam at fullback showing some pace.

The game ended with a try to Maids with the last play making the score 28 – 0. Not a fair reflection of the game as sad y some of their players and Shire definitely left with their heads high and with the respect of the Maids players.

A brutal game, 6 splits including 5 from Maids mostly inflicted by their own players.

Well played boys.

MOTM – selected entire 8 forwards (Istvan for drinking purposes!)