Travelling to Lily Hill Park has become an interesting challenge for the Maidenhead in recent years, especially now the picturesque surroundings are barren of leaves, and heavy underfoot. The pristine foot sure 4G pitch is a significant advantage to 'Maids' when at home, but adapting to a traditional autumnal pitch is surely a challenge every other week, and for much of the game this appeared to be a good assumption.

Whilst Maids had started well by exploiting an overlap in the opening minutes to take a 0-5 lead, it was Bracknell who settled in to the match and created momentum with multiple phased plays upfield. The Maids defence was tested time and again, but Bracknells unforced errors ultimately provided the relief Maids craved.

However following a successful drive upfield, Bracknell secured a penalty line out 5m out and executed the catch and drive perfectly, James Robert touched down to level the scores 5-5, the conversion was missed from wide out.

As the 1st half developed, Bracknell continued to dominate, but the error count accelerated. Perhaps due to playing the game at pace on an energy sapping heavy surface ball carriers became isolated and Bracknell were penalised for holding on continually. In the 31st minute Maids took the opportunity to retake the lead with a well struck penalty, but missed another penalty kick at goal soon after to leave the half time score, 5-8 to Maids.

The 2nd half began well for Maids and but for some gritty defence from a resolute Bracknell defence would have extended their lead. Maids had upped their game, and became worthy of their narrow lead. From this point, it was an even contest, with good continuity and structured phases from both sides, with some unforced errors perhaps spoiling the ground work.

Midway through the half a high tackle provided Maids the opportunity to extend their lead, the kick sailed wide, but almost immediately from the restart Bracknell were adjudged to have come in from the side. The resultant penalty was struck well to extend the Maids lead to 5-11. Bracknell were now forced to chase the game, and the intensity grew in every facet of the game. The physicality also lifted as the game charged in to the final quarter, a period epitomised by a crunching tackle by Alfie Thompson on the Maids 11, who at time had a little too much to say for himself. I think it's called 'Karma'.

With a 6 point deficit with ten minutes to play, Bracknell were forced to chase the game and a loose pass was intercepted by Maids resulting in a 60m run in, the conversion gave Maids a weighty 5-18 lead.

Soon after Bracknell went down to 14 when Elliott Maddison left the field with a broken nose, and Maids agree to reduce their numbers to 14, huge thanks to Gareth and his coaching team for this gesture totally in the spirit of the game.

Maids finished the game under the Bracknell posts with a penalty try when an illegal tackle on a player about to snap up a loose ball in the Bracknell in goal area, the conversion completed the scoring and Maids had completed a well deserved victory 5-25.

In the conditions this was a tremendous display of rugby, and Maids grew throughout the game on what is becoming an unfamiliar surface, having weathered the Bracknell pressure in the 1st half.

This was a game played by two very strong 2nd XV's, which would be the envy of many 1st XV's at some other Berkshire clubs,,so credit to the lads and the coaching teams. It also sets up a tasty league encounter between the respective 1st XV's on 6th March on the 4G, where we hope Bracknell adapt to the unfamiliar surface as well as Maidenhead did today.

Well played Maidenhead, and a big thank you to Nick Stone who stood in to officiate at late notice, as always Nick you put in a sterling performance