Maidenhead kick off and the new league season is underway, Tom Macnamara takes and the ball is spun out to Dan Thorne who kicks into Maidenheads half. Maidenhead keep ball in hand and return through their forwards to half way where they win a scrum, from the scrum Maidenhead win a free kick which they tap quickly and run at the Newbury defence winning a pen, they decide to take along shot at the posts which falls just short and is taken by Richard West and kicked safely into touch.
Maidenhead win the lineout and attack through their backs but are bundled into touch by Edward David and Dan Thorne. Newbury take the lineout and march up field with the forwards Rob Drysdale, Tom Macnamara, Josh Love controlling the ball, Maidenhead infringe allowing Richard West to kick further up field into Maidenhead territory. Newbury win the lineout and spread the ball wide from Scrum half Joe Binfield through the backs Dan Thorne Iain Herriott to Tom Martin to Jamie Futcher, the ref blows and awards Newbury a penalty for off side 30 yds out right in front of the posts, Richard West slots it over, 3-0, 7min’s.
Newbury catch Maidenheads restart and put up a high kick which is nearly regathered by Jamie Futcher but the knock on gives Maidenhead the scrum, from the scrum Maidenhead attack but lose the ball allowing Newbury to run back at them through Eddie Farebrother, Newbury infringe giving Maidenhead the penalty which they kick to touch.
From the lineout Maidenhead are awarded another penalty which they kick to touch giving them a line out in the Blues 22. Lineout won they attack the Newbury line and after several phases are awarded a penalty infront of the posts for offside, 3-3 13 min’s
Ben Hicks comes on for the injured Jack Walsh
Newbury restart and put enough pressure on Maidenhead to concede a penalty, Richard West kicks to touch, from the lineout Maidenhead get a penalty scrum which they win and kick into Newbury’s half, Edward David takes and runs straight back at the Maidenhead defence, the Blues forwards Finn Walsh Graham Stewart, George Robinson Slater are soon in support and the ball is kept safe and spread to the backs where luckily a long pass is nearly intercepted but a knock on is the result giving Newbury the scrum.
Newbury managed to just keep hold of the ball at the scrum as they are pushed backwards, the ball is passed back to Dan Thorne who has time to put up another high kick which is chased by the Newbury backs, Tom Martin forcing the penalty as the Maiden head player is penalised for holding on. Richard West fires the ball safely into touch, from the line out Newbury cough up possession when they knock on, Maidenhead win their scrum and get the ball out to their backs who run at the Newbury defence and make good yards well into Newburys half before a knock on halts their progress and gives Newbury a scrum and a chance to get back into Maidenheads half.
Newbury win their scrum and again the backs through Joe Binfield, Richard West, Dan Thorne, Iain Herriott Tommy Martin cover big yards before winger Jamie Futcher is held up just yards short of the try line. Newbury are quickly in support forcing Maidenhead to concede the penalty, Newbury tap and go but lose the ball allowing Maidenhead to kick and clear their lines.
The Blues run back into Maidenheads half before a knock on halts their progress, Maidenhead win the scrum and mount another attack which gets them back into Newburys half before they lose possession in a ruck allowing Eddie Farebrother to gather and make a storming 50 yd run into Maidenheads 22 passing to Josh Love who is stopped short but gets the pass back to Eddie Farebrother who is brought to ground just short of the line, the Newbury forwards are quickly in support and the ball is recycled to Richard West who breaks the tackle to score wide out on the left his long conversion sails over 10-6 26 min’s.
Maidenhead restart and are back under pressure when an Iain Herriott run takes play back into their half but as the support arrive the ball is knocked on. Maidenhead win their scrum and kick back into the Blues half, Jamie Futcher takes and as the forwards rally in support Maidenhead concede the penalty in the maul. Richard West kicks and takes play into the Maidenhead 22, Newbury win another penalty at the lineout which is again slotted into touch, this time Maidenhead put Newbury under pressure and win a penalty which they kick into touch to relieve the immediate pressure. From the lineout the Maidenhead forwards march up field and force Newbury to infringe giving them the penalty which is kicked into touch. Maidenhead win the line out and are looking dangerous before a great Tom Martin tackle puts them in touch, Newbury win the lineout and relieve the pressure kicking to the safety of the touchline. Maidenhead win the line out and attack down their right hand side but a forward pass gives Newbury a scrum just out side their 22, scrum won Maidenhead force Newbury into touch which brings the half time whistle.

Chris Gladwin comes on for Finn Walsh
Newbury kick off the second half, Maidenhead take and are soon under pressure as Newbury rush up and tackle, Maidenhead get the ball back to allow their 10 to kick back into Newbury’s half. Newbury take and run the ball back into Maidenhead’s half before a kick over the defence is hurriedly gathered and kicked out, the Newbury forwards take the lineout and Eddie Farebrother makes another good run before play is switched across field but a knock on halts another attacking phase.
Maidenhead concede a penalty at the scrum allowing Richard West to kick to touch on Maidenheads 22, the Blues forwards win the lineout and and force Maidenhead to concede another penalty which again is kicked to touch 5yds out. Newbury’s forwards are again safe at the lineout and the ball is won and the maul is formed, creeping forward they keep the Maidenhead defence grouped allowing Eddie Farebrother to break of the rear and crash through to score Richard West just wide with a long conversion, 15-3 45 min’s
Maidenhead restart and play is soon back in their half as Newbury take and Joe Binfield kicks long, Maidenhead knock on giving Newbury the scrum, the Newbury forwards win the scrum and again Joe Binfield spreads the ball out to the backs giving Edward David and Iain Herriott the chance to make good ground before Newbury concede a penalty. Maidenhead’s kick does’nt make touch allowing Newbury to run back into Maidenhead territory but again they concede the penalty giving Maidenhead the chance to clear their lines. Maidenheads forwards win a penalty at the scrum allowing them to kick into touch back in the Blues half, Maidenhead win the lineout but the maul is pushed into touch giving Newbury the lineout. The Blues win the line out then a penalty which Richard West kicks into touch on half way, Maidenhead’s forwards steal the lineout and they make good ground well into the Newbury 22 before Newbury infringe at the maul. Maidenhead have a scrum 5 yds out and have a man extra in the pack which they use to shove the Blues pack back over their line to score on
56 min’s 15-8
Newbury restart and are unlucky not to reclaim the restart instead a knock on is given, Maidenhead win the scrum just outside their 22 and kick to touch on half way. Maidenhead win the lineout but give away a penalty allowing the ball to be kicked into touch 35 yds out from the try line, the Newbury forwards keep up the pressure winning the line out and and letting the backs loose where Tom Martin makes good ground and forces Maidenhead to concede a penalty, play carries on and Dan Thorne forces the Maidenhead defence to conced a second penalty infront of the posts, Richard West slots it over 18-8 63 min’s
Maidenhead restart and Eddy Farebrother takes allowing Joe Binfield to kick clear into touch just short of half way, Maidenhead win the lineout and their forwards maul forwards and are given a penalty for a high tackle. George Robinson Slater is back from the sin bin
The penalty is kicked into touch just inside Newburys 22 giving them an attacking lineout, the Newbury forwards steal the lineout allowing Richard West to clear their lines, the kick is not in touch but Newbury are fast behind it and force Maidenhead to give away a penalty scrum as they are held up. Newbury win the scrum and a penalty which Richard West slots into touch. Maidenhead pinch the lineout but their clearing kick is straight out bringing play back and Newbury the lineout. This time Maidenhead steal the lineout but give away the penalty in mid field approx 40 yds out, Richard Wests long attempt just dips under the crossbar. Maidenhead take the 22 drop out and Tom Martin makes one of his weaving runs but is stopped short and Newbury knock on, Maidenhead win the scrum and are forced to try and run the ball out by the Newbury attack who rush up and eventuall win a penalty about 30 yds out just right of the posts, Richard West slots it over 21-8 73 min’s
Maidenhead restart and are soon back in their own half as Newbury take and kick back into Maidenheads half, Maidenhead run the ball back but lose the ball allowing Newbury to attack, with the try line beckoning Newbury’s pass is intecepted allowing Maidenhead to attack and a couple of phase’s later they are up to Newbury’s try line to score wide out on the left the conversion just wide, 21-13 76 mins
This leaves a nervous last few minutes before the final whistle is blown giving the Blues a victory, which is the first time they have won the first game of the new season since 2005 and the opponents on that day were London Welsh.

Man of The Match was awarded to Eddie Farebrother

A good clean hard fought game well controlled by the Ref and sweet revenge for the two narrow 1 pt losses last season. Newbury created ample opportunities which due to unforced errors, they couldn’t convert on the day, but it was a positive start to an exciting season.

Next game is Sat 13th Sept at home against Witney 3pm K/O. This will be another tough encounter as the visitors also recorded a win on their first outing of the season.

SQUAD
Graham STEWART, Rob DRYSDALE, George ROBINSON SLATER,
Tom MCNAMARA, Finn Walsh, Jack WALSH, Josh Love, Eddie FAREBROTHER,
Joe BINFIELD, Richard WEST, Edward David, Dan THORNE, Iain HERRIOTT,
Jamie FUTCHER, Tom MARTIN
Ben Hicks, Chris GLADWIN, Tom BASS