The first Saturday of the 2016/17 season saw the Wildboys visit Braywick Park to face Maidenhead II’s. If you cast your mind back to this fixture in the previous season, you may well remember that the Wildboys were narrowly beaten in the last play of the game, as Maidenhead slotted over a penalty to put them a point ahead in a hard fought contest. This defeat ultimately cost the Wildboys the league victory and allowed Bracknell to remain champions by just 1 point. It was a memory that the Wildboys planned to use to their advantage and as they wiped away the tears caused by the memory, they readied themselves for what was sure to be a hard fought encounter.
The Chinnor starting line-up was missing a few regular faces with Rob Nichols and Guy Hackshaw still sunning themselves, Jayson Abbott and Wild Bill Taylor having family commitments, Max Williams honing his physique, Thomas White still injured from the previous season and Mark Bradburn being rather pathetic. However, the starting line-up was not hindered with the inclusion of some new and returning faces. Harry Hillier and Ed Devine returned to the fold as well as international superstar Dan Cundy (for about 5 minutes, who was replaced by new boy Graham 'get a round in!' Puffet) and new boy Tots Rackstraw starting at 6 saw a strong team fielded on this rainy afternoon.
As the match began the Wildboys instantly came to life, they began playing the rugby they talked about on the build-up and as such retained much of the possession and territory in the opening 10 minutes. A few good phases of play saw Ed Devine smashing his way through the defence and diving over the try line to touch down, only for it to be ruled as being held up (or a double movement? Nobody really knew), but from the resulting scrummage Chinnor continued to dominate. The dominance soon paid off and in a repeat of the previous seasons fixture, the scoring was opened by none other than the illustrious leader George White, who after a few phases powered over the for the first 5 points of the day. As per the previous fixture the conversion was then expertly slotted over by James Way putting the Wildboys up 0-7.
Just three minutes after the opening score, Chinnor were flying over the line again with another expertly drilled try. This time it was last year’s player of the season George Hope touching down to open his account for the season. Once again James Way stepped up and gained the Wildboys a further 2 points leaving the score at 0-14.
As Wildboys learned from the previous year’s fixture, Maidenhead do not let their heads drop and would rather capitalise on any complacency shown when a team are ahead. The began to find their feet in the game and were soon touching down to reduce the defect to 5-14. The resulting conversion was struck through the middle of the post by none other than Chinnor’s first team’s old fly half Ed Keohane putting the score at 7-14.
Maidenhead continued to dominate on the restart, but Chinnor’s response was good as they shored up their defence once again, with hard hit’s going in from Ollie Jackson, Tots Rackstraw and Adam Draper giving the Wildboys the momentum they needed to see it through to half time.
As the second half was restarted, the Wildboys began much as they had in the first. They played some good phases and soon after Adam Draper was darting over for his first of the season. The resulting conversion was struck well by Way, but clipped the outside of the post to put the score at 7-19.
The Wildboys then switched off and allowed Maidenhead to dominate once again scoring their second of the day and once again converting to put the score at 14-19. After this the Wildboys didn’t seem to re-find their grip on the game as Maidenhead continued to press. Scrappy defending from the Chinnor saw a penalty conceded which was well within the range of Maidenhead’s Keohane, he struck it accurately and put the score at 17-19.
Maidenhead must have had flash backs to last season’s fixture and realised that the victory was within their reach, Chinnor were clinging on for what seemed to be an age and when the referee stated there were still 10 minutes to play it seemed as though history really was repeating itself. Time seemed to freeze when Keohane dropped back to give himself a little space for the drop goal which would have seen Maidenhead win by just one point, fortunately for the Wildboys he missed and as they regained possession, the ball was kicked into touch by Bill Deeley and the Wildboys earnt their first points of the season.
Outstanding performances from Chinnor this week were from Jon Goodson, Pieter Nell and Tots Rackstraw, but this week’s Man of the Match (once again, just like in last year’s fixture) was awarded to James Way for his safe footwork and coolness und pressure. Mare of the match this week was awarded to Captain George White, for forgetting to bring the post-match John Smiths. He was however saved by his Father who had spotted the forgotten Smittys and transported them to the fixture. Until next week, keep it Wild…
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Man of the Match: James Way
Mare of the Match: George White
Tries: G.White, G.Hope, A.Draper
Conv: J.Way (2)