Maidenhead kick off this Berkshire derby on a sunny but chilly and windy afternoon at Monks Lane, the pitch looking a good playing surface, Blues return the kick into touch and manage to steal the lineout, Blues run at Maidenhead Alex Millar and Dan Thorne making good ground before they cough up possession allowing Maidenhead to kick clear to touch on Blues 22. Maids steal the lineout and put Blues under pressure through several phases before a forward pass gives Blues a scrum, Maids disrupt the scrum and gain possession allowing them to attack and get up to the try line but cannot make the breakthrough instead they get a penalty which is slotted into touch.
From the lineout they again but the Blues defence under pressure but a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum, Blues pack under pressure and going backwards manage to win the scrum then a penalty which Ryan Trevaskis clears long into touch, Maids again steal the lineout and a good attack takes them into Blues 22 before they are tackled into touch.
Maidenhead win a penalty at the lineout and kick to touch, this time Blues steal the lineout and kick out of defence, Maids gather and good chip kick over the Blues defence forces Blues to concede a penalty which again Maids kick to touch, this time it pays off as their forwards maul 10 yards to score the first try through their 6 Lawrence Leonard, and convert 0-7 14 mins

Blues restart and manage to get their hands on the ball taking play up to Maids 22, Blues put pressure on Maids defence through several phases and win a penalty which Ryan Trevaskis slots between the posts 3-7 17 mins

Maids kick off Blues take and kick deep, Maids gather and return the kick deep into Blues half but play is brought back to half way foe a Blues scrum, Blues pack again under pressure manage to hold on to possession and run at Maids making good progress through several phases before a speculative pass is taken by Maids, their kick is too deep and runs over the dead ball line so back for a Blues scrum in Maids half.
Maids steal the scrum and after a couple of phases kick into touch on halfway, Blues win their lineout and run the ball getting into Maids 22, Blues send a chip kick over the defensive wall and a good chase forces Maids to kick into touch, Blues lineout is not straight giving Maids a defensive scrum. Maids win their scrum and clear to touch on halfway, they manage to steal the lineout and run at Blues getting up to Blues 22 before conceding a penalty, Blues kick to touch win the lineout and again some good running rugby takes them into Maids 22, Blues keep up the pressure on Maids defence through several phases before a searching Josh Love run splits the defence and Toby Thorne running a great angle takes the pass to break through the defensive line and score under the posts Ryan Trevaskis converting 10-7 30 mins

Maids are soon level when they manage to get possession from their restart kick and their attack results in a penalty which they kick 10-10 34 mins

Blues reply and retake the lead with an identical restart scenario a good kick get hold of the ball and yes their pressure is rewarded with a penalty which Ryan Trevaskis slots over 13-10 36 mins

Maids restart kick is returned into touch by Blues, Maids win the lineout and their forwards maul upfield getting to the Blues 22 wide out on their left and win a penalty which is just wide of the posts bringing half time

Blues kick off the second half with the slight advantage of the cross wind and after Maids run the ball then cough up possession Blues attack and get a penalty which the safe boot of Ryan Trevaskis sends between the posts 16-10 42 mins

From the restart Josh Winfield is taken out in the air resulting in a Blues penalty and a yellow card for Maids 7, Blues slot the penalty into touch but again lose their lineout allowing Maids to get out of danger, Blues pressure results in a Maids knock on, Blues win the scrum but return the knock on favour, Maids play the advantage and win a penalty which they kick to touch, Blues steal the lineout and run the ball getting into Maids half and win a penalty, Blues play the advantage but a mistake brings play back for the penalty which Ryan Trevaskis kicks 19-10 49 mins

Toby Pearce off Josh Bartlett on

Maids restart kick is taken safely by Blues and a chip over the defender by Josh Bartlett results in another penalty when he is blocked Ryan Trevaskis hits the target with the long attempt from the touchline, 22-10 52 mins

Blues win a scrum from the restart kick and from the scrum a great Dan Thorne kick forces Maids to touch down in their dead ball area and take the 22 drop out, Blues gather and a good Alex Millar run takes play back close to Maids 22, Joe Pigott keeps up the momentum, Blues keep up the pressure Dan Thorne gets over the line but is held up, Blues keep possession and after several phases of good attacking rugby win a penalty in front of the posts which is easy pickings for the on form Ryan Trevaskis 25-10 58 mins.

Finn Walsh off Dylan Stewart on

From the restart kick Josh Winfield makes a searching run before the ball is spread across the pitch in a flowing move before a foot in touch halts progress, Maids win their lineout and try running before a clearing kick is charged down by Blues who manage to get their hands on the loose ball, Blues attack but lose possession, Maids try running but spill the ball in the tackle, play is held up for a Maids injury

Ben Hicks off Graham Stewart on

Play is restarted with a Blues scrum and they mount another attack, but a misunderstanding means a pen to Maids for crossing, Maids tap quickly and try running out of their half but lose the ball at the tackle, Joe Pigott sends a good chip kick bouncing into touch well in Maids territory, Maids win the lineout but a loose pass rolls into touch, Blues win the lineout and their forwards maul to towards the line but get ushered into touch.
Maids win the lineout and run the ball but don’t get far before Blues manage to steal the ball at the tackle then knock on giving Maids a scrum, Maids run the ball from the scrum but again lose the ball in the tackle, Blues soon cough up possession but get it back when their forwards again work well at the tackle, another good run from Josh Winfield breaks the defence he passes to Rob Drysdale who unselfishly with the try line well in his sights releases a pass to Toby Thorne who is over and touches down under the posts, Ryan Trevaskis keeps up his 100% kicking record 32-10 72 mins

Blues are now on top and from the kick off another good spell of running rugby takes play up to half way, a forward pass stops their progress, but the ref has been playing advantage so back for a Blues penalty, Ryan Trevaskis kicks to touch, Blues win the lineout under pressure, but a Maids knock on gives Blues a scrum,

Finn Walsh on Ollie Spanswick off 75 mins

Blues win the scrum and run across the pitch, good Maids defence pushes them backwards and wins the ball in the tackle, Maids have not given up and a good attack takes play into Blues 22 winning a scrum

Adam Neal off Ben Hicks on

Maids attack from their scrum but good Blues defence takes Maids into touch, Maids steal the lineout and take play back into Blues 22 before again the Blues forwards steal possession at the tackle and kick clear, Maids gather and run but a knock on in the tackle halts their progress, Blues win the scrum and Joe Pigott darts away before releasing Josh Bartlett who weaves his way around the Maids defenders to score under the posts, Ryan Trevaskis converts 39-10 38 mins

Maids take the restart kick and a good chase results in a mistake by Blues and a Maids scrum

Alex Millar off Ollie Spanswick on

Maids win their scrum and some good attacking rugby results in a consolation score and the final whistle when the conversion drifts wide 39-15 final score

Both teams should be congratulated on a great game of rugby in this Berkshire derby, watched by a big crowd, good luck to Maidenhead for the remainder of the season apart from the return match at Maidenhead!!!

Forwards MOM Alex Millar for his destructive running
Backs MOM Ryan Trevaskis for his great 100% kicking record

On a sad note we all wish Finn Walsh a speedy recovery after falling ill after the match and who is now in Hospital with a stomach injury picked up during the second half, good luck Finn and hope you are soon on the road to a full recovery

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macauley, Josh Winfield, Adam Neal, Finn Walsh, Ollie Spanswick,
Alex Millar, Joe Pigott, Richard West, Toby Pearce, Josh Love, Dan Thorne, Toby Thorne,
Ryan Trevaskis, Graham Stewart, Dylan Stewart, Josh Bartlett

Next week Sat 4th Nov Blues are away at 4th placed Cleve who are unbeaten at home this season, a tough game for the Blues

Thanks to the ball boys from Newbury U 9’s a great job

Thanks to the great Blues support that always seems to outnumber the opposition followers

REPORT FROM MAIDENHEAD ADVERTISER

Newbury RFC 39, Maidenhead RFC 15

Maidenhead were brushed aside by a strong second half performance from hosts Newbury at Monks Lane on Saturday.
With a stiff breeze at their backs, Maids took the lead when they secured lineout ball and drove it over the line for Lawrence Leonard to touch down. Ed Keohane added the extras.

The Blues replied with a converted try and penalty of their own following multiple phases, although a Keohane penalty levelled proceedings at 10-10.

The Blues led 13-10 at half-time and soon added four wind-assisted penalties to take a grip on the match.

They ensured success with two more tries, securing a bonus point, while Maids had to make do with a late converted try from winger Scott Prince.

It was a tough, hard derby and one which leaves Maids fifth in the South West Premier on 23 points with the Blues eighth on 19 points. Both teams have won four and lost four of their eight starts.

Maids entertain mid-table Brixham at Braywick on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten home run to 26 matches..