After a great first trial win against Oxon, hopes were high as Wilts kicked off under the lights at Maidenhead.
After a good take and charge by the blind side, Thompson and a clearance from the long kicking, left-footed Eastgate the match was underway. Wilts kept Bucks pinned in their own half, kicking into the corner. Good first line out with Williams finding the athletic Keating in the middle of the line out. The first ten minutes were all in Bucks half, with Bucks trying to play from deep. A ray of sunshine as the alert Foster intercepted and made it out of Bucks half, but Wilts were back in greater numbers and with the turnover counter punched down the right flank. Good support from the Wilts hooker saw him with the overlap and over in the corner. Converted and 7-0.
A deep kick off and some territory and pressure at last. But with a number of handling mistakes, caused no doubt partly through some new combinations in the backs and also by the wet conditions, there were plenty of scrums. A new combination of Ingram, Woodall and Williams in front row had a good contest against a strong Wilts combination. A penalty and a quick tap from Costin-Pratt saw pressure on the Wilts line and after a few drives Bucks couldn't quite get over. The Line out not quite functioning and Wilts clear their lines.
A good blind side break sees them make yards, but Coupland on the left wing covers well.
A penalty on the bucks 22 and with the kick in off the post its 10-0.
From kick off a good chase from Coker, the ball is turned over a strong run from Bennett playing open side creates pressure and with off-side Eastgate puts it in the corner. Line out not quite functioning and Wilts clear their lines. Ewing collecting kicks, always beating the first man on the return. Warren takes a hospital pass but uses his strength to stand up in the tackle and its not long before he's breaking the first tackle.
Captain Chietan playing in the second row today is ever present in the loose and turns over the ball. More pressure now on the Wilts line with Costin-Pratt sniping and forwards supporting. Eventually Coker gets over at short range for a well deserved try, which is converted by Eastgate. 10-7.
But the Wilts backs look dangerous, bringing blindside winger and full back in to create overlaps and they get in again on the right hand side. Half time 17-7
Changes with Half backs Bowles and Hughes coming on; Formstone replacing Coupland and Pittwood for Keating.
The second half was similar to the first, a good contest, but still mistakes and penalties holding back Bucks. As the game opened up we saw more of the two wingers Kuku showing first his powerful hand-off and then a stunning run down the touchline, before being brought down. Formstone then started to get into game and showed his stunning acceleration and pace to get away from defenders and make yards. Only a brilliant cover tackle by the Wilts full-back stopped him getting in. Wilts started to get their driving line-out going making good yards. Kicking to the corner they drove over for a well worked score. Conversion Missed 22-7.
More reinforcements as the front row was replaced by Shreenivasaprasad, James and Roberts-Moore, who continued to contest strongly in tight and loose. As the match started to break up Wilts found a gap in the midfield defence and breaking through found support and completed the scoring 29-7, which is where the scores stayed.
Lot's to work on, but an amazing experience on the 4G Pitch under the lights. Our thanks to Maidenhead RFC for their hospitality and Bucks coaches and physio for their support.