The penultimate Saturday of January saw Chinnor’s Wildboys visit Braywick Park to face Maidenhead IIs for the return fixture of the 2015/16 season. The Wildboys were well aware that the home fixture had been one of the most challenging of the season and as such knew this would be no walk in the park.

However, a late arrival and an apparent lackadaisical approach prior to kick off meant that the Wildboys had their backs against the wall from kick off. Maidenhead started with their usual hard hitting approach, which paid off with an early penalty which was slotted over to put them 3 points ahead within the first 5 minutes. This was a rude awakening for the Chinnor boys who realised they had to up their game if they were to compete in this fixture.

The response was good and whilst Maidenhead were down to 14 due to a yellow card, some well worked phases saw the ball worked through the hands out to the right wing, where it found none other than captain George White who gracefully dived over the line for the first try of the game. The following conversion was exquisitely slotted over by James Way to put the score at 3-7 in favour of the Wildboys.

Soon after the first try, a big hit form Adam Draper on the halfway line saw the Maidenhead player spill the ball as Draper dragged him out to touch, the ball was then quickly picked up by James Way who had a clear run to the line, but as he set off on his merry way to the line the whistle was blown by the referee. The players from both sides seemed confused, only to turn around to see Chinnor’s Adam Roberts mistakenly waving the flag to indicate the ball had gone out of play, the referee decided to listen to the touch judge and the ball was brought back for a lineout. The ball was then shifted back through the hands and lofted in the air for the wingers to chase on the opposite side of the pitch. The Maidenhead winger jumped highest and collected the ball well, only to be met in the air by the already committed Max Wood. Both players crashed to the ground, but were both uninjured by what was clearly an unintentional coming together. The referee called over the offending Wildboy and to the surprise and shock of all players and spectators pulled out his Red card, Max took the decision gracefully and went to the sideline to spend the next 60 minutes as a spectator.

It was then Maidenheads turn to capitalise on the additional player, the powered the ball forwards and a well worked rolling maul saw them touch the ball down to take the lead for the second time of the day. The following conversion was narrowly missed, putting the score at 8-7.

From the restart Chinnor tried to work some phases, but seemed to be falling at the last hurdle, with the ball being dropped or passes not reaching their man. It was a far reach from the clinical rugby the Wildboys have been playing, but credit to Maidenhead who were not allowing the Wildboys to play the rugby that saw them victorious in the preceding fixture. It was shortly before the call of halftime that Maidenhead scored their second try of the game and in turn slotted over the conversion to extend their lead to 15-7.

In the half-time huddle there were some matter of fact words, of which all were taken on board with renewed enthusiasm and spirit and as the game was restarted the forwards flew up, disrupting the receiving Maidenhead pack. As the ball was turned over there was quick ball out to the wing where George Culbert darted down the touchline to score in the corner. The conversion was not successful, closing the deficit down to 15-12.

The game remained evenly matched for a period, with both teams attacking and defending with the desire to win the game. The next breakthrough came from another strong scrummage form the Wildboys pack, once again the ball went through the hands and out to the wing where an in form James Peter Way touched down for Chinnor’s third try of the game. Way then took the conversion and with his footballer like prowess he once again knocked it through the posts to put the score at 15-19 in favour of the Wildboys.

Maidenhead responded well and some attacking crash balls then saw a long pass out to the outside centre who touched down and defied the two Chinnor players attempting to hold the ball up. The ball was then converted putting Maidenhead in the lead once again 22-19.

The game was proving to be a hard fought encounter and all 29 players on the pitch were giving all they had. The score did not remain unchanged for long, the Maidenhead fullback chipped over only so see the ball collected by Adam Draper, who seemed to take on the characteristics of Moses and parted the defence for an unchallenged 50m dash to the line. The conversion was again narrowly missed, leaving Chinnor ahead 22-24 with the game nearing its end.

As the clocked ticked own, Maidenhead were not going to take a defeat lying down and continued to push for the victory, they once again forced the ball over the line with a rolling maul, only for it to be held up by the resolute Wildboys. As the ball was collected from the back of the resulting scrummage by the Maidenhead scrum half, the stand in Chinnor scrum half Rob Nichols tackled the man, only for it to be declared by the referee that he was offside. The Maidenhead captain sensibly elected that they would kick for the posts and as the ball sailed over they took the lead for the third time of the game 25-24. This is how the score remained and saw victory deservedly awarded to the Maidenhead team.

The whole team played well as individuals, but lacked something as a team. Notable performances came from George White, who looked powerful when in possession of the ball, Jon Goodson who scrummaged hard and tackled well, but this week’s man of the match was James Peter Way, who made some strong runs and who had a great conversion success rate considering all tries were scored right out on the wings. I am sure @Harley_theCavapoo will be so proud #MOM #Dad

It was a hard fought fixture that could have gone either way, the run of the game was even, apart from the unfortunate situation of Chinnor playing with 14 men. This however was not the reason they lost, they were not clinical enough during the game and were faced with a well drilled opposition, who had the desire to win the game. It can perhaps be viewed as a necessary fall from grace from which undoubtedly the Wildboys will come back fighting.

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Man of the match: James Way
Mare of the match: Adam Roberts
Tries: G.White, G.Culbert, J.Way, A.Draper
Convs: J.Way (2)