Match Report by : Adrian Rigby

Maidenhead visited St. Marks on Saturday, with Tunbridge Wells feeling positive after last week’s performance against London Welsh who are unbeaten in the league.
The match on the lower pitch could not have started better, with Wells breaking from virtually the kick off and Ben Whale scoring under the Maidenhead posts. Converted by Greg Thew and an immediate 7-0 lead, setting down a marker that we felt we could perform well against a team ahead of us in the league. After some good kicking by Wells Maidenhead won a scrum penalty, but the pressure continued and a penalty to Wells resulted in a line out 22 metres out and an unconverted try on by Rory Googer in the corner. Wells lead 12-0 and started well again from the kick off, Wells quickly winning a scrum in Maidenhead’s half from a knock on and Rory scoring another try which was converted by Greg Thew taking the score to 19-0. The best start to a game by Wells for a long time, clearly Maidenhead now appreciated we were here to play and our running game was impressive. A scrappy passage of play followed, with knock on’s from both teams and some poor lineouts. Wells reset though and a fantastic passage of running from us almost resulted in a try but we knocked on in their 22. A line out to Wells lead to another try from Sam Crichton under the posts, converted by Greg Thew taking the score to 26-0 at half time and a very dominant performance from Wells.
Maidenhead had much to ponder, but all credit to them as they stated the second half strongly putting a lot of pressure on Wells immediately and forcing multiple errors. They scored their first try from a Lineout, which was unconverted and 26-05. Whilst Wells then settled the pressure continued from Maidenhead in our half and a second try came quickly, which was converted and the score moving to 26-12. This seemed to result in a reset from Wells, with a great break from Josh Curtis and then important yards from Ben Whale and Sam Crichton. A line out to Wells resulted in a try from Alex Purnell converted by Greg Thew, 33-12. Wells really now back on track with a great run from Ethan and a try from Jay which was unconverted 38-12. We then received a yellow card for Jay and to be fair to Maidenhead they again raised their game and showed great attitude to score moving the score to 38-17.
The game concluded with a passage of play that summed up the Wells performance, some amazing handling by a number of our players from deep in our own half resulted in a turn of speed from Josh Curtis and a run outside the Maidenhead winger to score a try. It was converted by Greg Thew leaving the full time score 45-17 and a statement win for Tunbridge Wells and a critical point in our season.

Chapel Down MOTM : Jay Smith