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Match Report 11th April 2026

Maidenhead Rugby Club 12 - CS Stags 1863 74

Link attached to extra watermarked match photos to view – thanks to Shell Patick for sharing them: https://photos.app.goo.gl/BRmgsuQemcmQ2axj6

The Stags travelled west up to Maidenhead for the last game of the season, in bright spring sunshine, if not slightly blustery conditions. Whatever the outcome of the match, it was written in stone that Stags would finish fifth in the table, and Maidenhead tenth. The job still had to be done though, and the boys delivered on queue.

An early surprise was the home team breaking out for an opportunistic interception up the left wing just two minutes in, and opening up a 5 point lead. Once Stags settled after a while, the tries then flowed like water. The forwards led the way with flanker George Butler and hooker Pan Stylianou breaking through with power and force on 15 and 20 minutes – both converted by full back Alex Edwards. After another good strong run up field by skipper Pan, Luke Trigg ran a cutting line to score on 23 minutes. Unconverted. On 32 minutes after some line out forays, prop Luke Risman burst through to the line, and just three minutes later Luke Trigg once again powerfully broke tackles to score again. Both tries converted by Edwards. Just as the half ended, prop Risman once again scored on the right, and Stags took a 5-43 lead into half time, with six tries already in the bag.

Fly half David Wlkinson added another try as the second half started, after finding a gap in the home side defence. Then Maidenhead showed they still had some fight left, and this time their wing speedster elusively ran practically the length of field on the right to score, and this was converted. However, that was their last score, as Stags ran in another five tries after that before game end, with some good determined running, back up, and support play. Centre Ash Thomas on 61 minutes, then scrum half Alex Crocker on 68 minutes. On 70 minutes, other centre Henry Sweet scored, followed by another from Alex Crocker on 78 minutes. This time David Wilkinson converted the last two tries. At the death, Henry Sweet pulled out another try scoring break to end up under the posts, and the end of season party had obviously already started, since prop Andrew Barton stepped up to make the conversion!

A resounding 12-74 victory by CS Stags, a fitting way to end a good season, and add another 12 tries to the stats tally. This match was a poignant occasion, as it marks the last game of head coach Oli Bryant before he moves on, and most probably assistant player coach Jake Farnworth as well, and possibly final game for some players, such as conversion kicking prop and club legend, ‘Barts’. It was also a final game for the club chair in his position. So, a very big thank you to Oli and Jake for all their effort and input into the club, and a big well done to each and every one of the squad players, assistants, physio’s etc. for another very good season, with the club riding high in a number of the league stats and records. A new head coach and some assistant coaches, as well as a new club chair have been appointed – I shall introduce them and inform you of the details in the post season club newsletter, out soon. In the meantime, have a great off season everyone!

Tries: 60 points (x12) – George Butler, Pan Stylianou, Luke Trigg (x2), Luke Risman (x2), David Wilkinson, Ash Thomas, Alex Crocker (x2), Henry Sweet (x2)
Conversions: 14 points (x7) – Alex Edwards (x4), David Wilkinson (x2), Andrew Barton
Penalties: None