Maidenhead's players stood together 'like a band of brothers' in win over CS Stags

Greg Smith lines up a kick. Paul Morgan

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Maidenhead's players stood together like a ‘band of brothers’ on Saturday as they found a way to beat CS Stags 1863 when it looked like the battle was going the way of the visitors.

Saturday's match wasn't a spectacular try fest, the kind we've been used to seeing from Maids this season, it was more of a slugfest, a war of attrition. And with injuries mounting up for the home side, it looked like the Stags were going to come out on top as they moved into a 19-13 lead with 10 minutes to play.

Luke Triggs' try saw momentum swing against them, however, somehow, they managed to summon up the energy and the fight to get themselves back in contention, and fly-half Greg Smith was leading the way.

He scored 10 of his side's 25 points and booted over a crucial conversion from way out on the right touchline - the wrong side for a right-footed player - to make it 20-19 to Maids in the final minutes after Scott Prince had managed to dive over in the corner.

It was a high-pressure kick and a hushed silence fell over Braywick Park as he prepared to take it. Dan Collins may have barged his way through to score again in the very final seconds, but Smith's kick to edge the hosts back in front was the match-winning moment. It gave the home side the belief they were finally going to get over the line in this tight, tense clash in which defences were very much on top.

Speaking after the final whistle, Smith said: “We’ve got some great leaders in the team, so when Niall (Crosley) went down injured, I said, ‘you can trust me’ and Shawn (Ingle) stepped up as captain.

“We just stuck together like a band of brothers should do and it was lovely to be on the winning side at the death.

“In the last game against London Welsh, I felt my boot let the team down a little bit. So, I really worked hard in training this week to make sure I did my bit for the boys and to help us get the win ultimately.  The focus this week was mainly on defence because that seems to have let us down recently. I’m really proud of the boys because that was a huge effort.”

Relief was the overriding emotion for Smith when his match-winning kick sailed through the posts in the final minutes on Saturday. By the end he’d contributed 10 of the side’s 25 points having earlier slotted two penalties and an excellent conversion following Isaac Greene’s first half try.

“It was huge,” the fly-half admitted. “I’ve practiced that moment since I was a little boy playing in the garden. So, it’s not something I haven’t practiced.

“When it went over it was pure relief. The heart was racing, and the adrenalin kicked in. It was good to see one of those go over.

“Quite right it was on the wrong side for a right-footed kicker, but I do work on those all the time and I have some harsh critics like Mobbsy (David Mobbs-Smith). They push me to my limits, and I ask for that from them every week. I give 120 per cent every week and so do all the coaches and players. That’s all you can ask for.”

He added: “The job is not done. Those points were much needed, but this win reminds us how good we are. Last season, we were looking strong and played with a lot of flair and excitement. Today was a bit of a grudge match but we’ve proved we can win both ways.”