Maidenhead RFC Youth Tournament

The U12s As showed they mean business in the 2012/13 season, with some great performances against good opposition at this tournament. Despite this being our first appearance in this festival, it resulted with us laying waste to most of the teams in a tough group.

Opening up a festival against the home team is never easy, but Fullers put Maidenhead to the sword with a 2-0 victory. Stand-out moments were Harry Samuel great tackle on Maidenhead's big centre, and Kyran Feasey's try-saving tackle when it looked certain the opposition must draw level.
A well worked try from Josh Edwards (made possible by a sublime offload from Angus Finnegan) was the opening try of the festival and Monty Rennoldson powered over for the second.

Marlow proved to be equally easy to score against for most of the first half. Monty, Oliver Skinner (skipper) and a third from Monty looked like we might put a cricket score past them. Unfortunately, we 'switched off' and let them put two tries past us before half time. However, a scoreless second half was enough to ensure the win.

Bracknell were next. It was a rough and dirty game, with both sides playing hard (maybe a little too hard at times). Some decisions didn't go our way, but our demise (we lost the game 6-0) was self inflicted to some extent - we let our heads drop and responded poorly to the opposition's taunts. Harry Samuels needs another special mention for some tackles that left nobody doubting just how upset and frustrated he was!

Next up were the Welsh. Cwmbran were big and powerful with a vocal support that rivaled even our own. This game saw THE TACKLE OF THE TOURNAMENT when Oliver Higgins executed a technically perfect and awe-inspiring tackle on Cwmbran's big No. 13. If you ever wanted to see how to take down a big guy running hard at you, Oliver will be happy to show you. Fantastic. Despite a late flurry from the Welsh opponents, Fullers won 2-1 with a powerful try from Tom Walsh, and another after a great bit of support running from the ever keen Angus.

When Marlow beat Bracknell, we knew all we had to do was beat Henley in our last game to win the tournament. The rampant power of Monty (who was at his best in this game) with his two tries was, sadly, not enough. Angus made a great try-saving tackle, and Owen Rackham deserves special mention for his bravery, but it wasn't to be. Henley seemed to get the rub of the green on a number of decisions, and a late try meant the game finished as a 2-2 draw.

Fullers finished on equal points with last year's champions, but the defeat we suffered at their hands meant our boys lost on the countback (a good lesson in keeping your heads up and not giving up should be the taken from this).

A special mention should also go out to our latest 'favourite girl': Shirley. The move worked superbly, and saw Mr Rennoldson (in the fly-half berth!) power through the 9/10 channel to score. I'm looking forwsrd to seeing her sister, Brenda, in action soon.

I have highlighted the best moments in the five games we played, but there wasn't a single Fullerian player out on the pitch today who wasn't deserving of the applause and congratulations heaped on them by everyone in attendance today.

Well done, boys. You have made everyone very proud of you.