Maidenhead v Chippenham (away)

It’s very much back to normality for Maids this week in training, following 2 very special Tuesday night sessions, hosted by Eddie Jones, and then Paul Gustard respectively. A massive thanks must go to our very Will Greenwood for organising, and the subsequent media coverage afterwards.

It was clear that Gustard’s methods rubbed off on the team last Saturday, as they successfully shut out Banbury, on their way to a 38-0 victory. Maidenhead visit Chippenham this week, who will be hoping to record their first win of the season, following relegation from Nat 3 last year. Indeed, it has been a contrasting start to the campaign for both sides, which sees them occupy opposite ends of the table, with Chippenham currently in 13^th, above only Oxford Quins, and Maids at the summit.

Chippenham will be hoping to feature full back Dom Riccio, who is a pacy threat from full back, whilst the backline will be steered by young fly half, Harry Taylor. Fraser Clilverd is one to watch in the pack, and the Maids back row will have to be on their guard to ensure they contain him.

One player in magenta this week, that Chippenham will have to try and contain, is points-machine Tom Finnie. Finnie, who has scored 5 tries in 3 games this season, will don his usual 15 shirt this Saturday, and we took a minute to find out a little more about him…

*Nickname(s)? Finnie

*Occupation? Full time tennis coach, at Jet Tennis

*Position? Fullback

*Former clubs? Cirencester RFC, Old Plymothians and Mannamedians RFC

*Biggest rugby achievement to date? Reaching the semi-finals of the National Cup with my 6^th form rugby side, Farmours School.

*Favourite food? Seafood Paella

*Dream woman/man? Scarlett Johansson/Russ Bolton

*Which Maids teammate would you least like to be stuck in a lift with, and why? Perry Jansen, because he would continuously talk about his 100% kicking record from the previous season.

*What do you want to achieve this season? To assist the club in finishing top2, and from a personal point of view, to keep expanding my game, and never setting foot on the weirdest rugby bus in the country.

 

There are several changes to the Maidenhead side this week, including the absence of Jon Heron, who is currently in hospital receiving shoulder surgery, for the injury he sustained last week- we all wish him a speedy recovery, and hope to see him back on the park soon. Frankie Longtime is on a romantic weekend away, with Sharlene Bertie’s pal, and likely to be uncontactable for the next 5 days, whilst Ryan Long accompanies him as camera man. Ross Muil returns to the side, after his recovery from a testicular injury, caused by wearing his girlfriend’s jeans, and Ross Evans is finally given a pass from his Mrs to play. Big ‘welcome-backs’ to the side for Mike Burnett and Alex Cannon, who fill the wing spots, after a few seasons away at different clubs.

 

Maids team:

1/ Parrott (c), 2/ N Jones, 3/ L Jones, 4/ Churchyard, 5/ White, 6/ Cadden, 7/ Muil, 8/ Cadden, 9/ Hill, 10/ Jansen, 11/ Burnett, 12/ Keohane, 13/ Bart, 14/ Cannon, 15/ Finnie, 16/ Savage, 17/ Evans, 18/ Childerhouse

 

Come on you Maids!

Maidenhead vs Banbury (home)

It’s back to home comforts for Maidenhead this week, as newly-promoted Banbury visit the Braywick Bowl, aiming to knock the Berks Boys off top spot. Maids reached the summit of South West 1 in style, following the derby demolition at Windsor last week, prevailing 45-13. Despite this, Maids will be disappointed the winning margin wasn’t bigger- leading 45-8 with over 15 mins left, they should have turned the screw, instead taking their foot off the gas, conceding a late score to their rivals. 

Maidenhead v Windsor (away)

After two tough opening matches against Wiltshire-based opposition, in the form of Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon, respectively, Maids partake in the first Berkshire derby of the season, when they take the short jaunt down to Home Park, to face Windsor. Maidenhead will be desperate to exact some revenge on a team that comfortably dispatched them in this fixture last year, 25-5. Maidenhead were outplayed and out-thought that day, by a dogged Windsor side, that managed the wet conditions much better than the boys from Braywick, who were somewhat naïve in their game plan. With hopefully a dry day in store, this should be less of a factor in the outcome of the match, and will hopefully see both teams play a fast, open game, which both are capable of.

Maidenhead v Swindon (home)

It’s back to home comforts this week for Maids, who take on Wiltshire rivals, Swindon at the Braywick Bowl, following a 20-19 victory over Royal Wootton Bassett 7 days earlier. Swindon also recorded a victory, overcoming Grove at home, 22-15, which sees both sides currently on 4 points in the table.
Maidenhead left it late to squeeze past RWB last week, and were 19-13 down, with time up on the clock. From a scrum, and a series of pick and drives, Lewis Jones managed to sneak over to score, with Tom Finnie coolly slotting the conversion to clinch the win. For the sake of Russell Bolton’s blood pressure, Maids will be keen to secure the win, in more comfortable circumstances against Swindon, though the players all know, this will be a tough task.

Maidenhead v Royal Wootton Bassett (away)

So, here we go again! Much has happened since the final game of last season, versus Wycombe; players have joined, some have left, some have got engaged (to Maids’ bar staff), pre-season has come and gone, and we’re now just one day away from our season opener from Royal Wootton Bassett, champions of Southern Counties South, last season.
There is undoubtedly a buzz around Braywick at the moment, with a newly-found belief, that this could be a special season for the club.