Match report by Fran Colangelo

After another wet week Wells pitches were given the go ahead on Saturday morning and the rain stopped ahead of kick off to ensure a dry spectacle for the 100 + crowd at St Marks.

Maidenhead won both fixtures last time the teams met in the league and they started well with good early possession. From a line out 10 metres out Maidenhead won the ball and a kick found their left wing Alex Turton who scored in the corner, the conversion was missed and the visitors led 0-5. From the restart Wells wing Tom Webster made a great break and good hands saw Tom Waghorne go over for a try converted by Ben Day for a 7-5 lead. Wells continued to attack well and from a line out in the Visitors 22 Ben Whale caught the ball and the forward drive saw Luke Hawkins score Wells second try with day converting it was now 14-5. Wells came close to a 3rd try but Webster was held up over the line with some solid Maidenhead defence. Both defences were working hard and despite Maidenheads young side pressurising the home line they could not add to their score. With 10 to go in the half however their try came as they wend over from close range converting to reduce the gap to 14-12. Wells came straight back and good hands saw Mike Doherty go over just before half time – Day added the conversion for a 21-12 lead at the break.

Half time saw George Montgomery come on at 15 with Mike Doherty moving to 12 as Ali Main left the field injured. Maidenhead started well as Wells infringed and Hawins saw yellow reducing the home side to 14 early on. The scoreline stayed the the same for the next 20 minutes until a good line out from Wells followed by strong drives by Ben Whale and Jay Smith saw Sam Crichton score on debut with day adding the 2. Wells had some breathing space with a 28-12 lead, but Maidenhead again came back, this time winning a penalty which they slotted for 3 to close the gap to 28-15 and 2 converted tries away from a possible win. 5 minutes later though Ben Day returned the favour added 3 for the home side and resorting the 16 point lead. Wells scrum started to dominate but they could not covert possession into further points. The last 10 minutes were a scrappy affair with neither side getting any quality phases and the game ended with no further scores.

Wells have a break next week before 3 fixtures in December, Bracknell away on the 2nd, Havant at home on the 9th and Horsham away on 16th in what will be the last game of 2023.