Maidenhead produce 'electric, outstanding' rugby to defeat title-chasers Jersey 46-45

Sean Ingle touches down for Maidenhead. David Mobbs-Smith described his performance against Jersey as ‘exceptional’. Photo: Paul Morgan

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Maidenhead produced some of the best rugby of head coach David Mobbs-Smith’s tenure as they initially blitzed title-challengers Jersey in the first half and then fought back for a thrilling 46-45 win at Braywick Park.

In warm, spring sunshine, Maids turned on the style in the opening 25 minutes, pulling the Channel Islanders left and right as they crossed the whitewash on multiple occasions to establish a 31-0 lead.

Mobbs-Smith called it ‘electric rugby’ and said it was a privilege to see the side playing so well against a team of ‘ex-professionals’. Yet, somehow, Jersey managed to maintain their composure amid the onslaught and slowly began to chip away at the home side’s lead.

They were back in the game at 31-14 at half-time, and notched up their fifth try in the second half to make it 38-35 with minutes left on the clock. There was still time for the visitors to score a converted try, and the hosts to score an unconverted try to make it 43-42.

Jersey then looked like they’d nicked a precious win in this season’s title race when they slotted a penalty to inch 43-45 in front, but Maids managed to force one last error from Jersey and Greg Smith was the most composed man in Maidenhead as he slotted the winning kick to make the final score 46-45.

“The final score was the ‘jazz hands’ scoreline, but we were leading 31-0 against them at one point in the first half,” said Mobbs-Smith.

“Those 20-something odd minutes in the first half were the best we’ve played since I’ve been at the club. It was something to see, but even at 31-0 up you knew they were going to come back because of the quality they have.

“They are a team of ex-professionals. These are people who have played for the Stormers in South Africa, Worcester, the Dragons in Wales, their fly half has scored 500 points in the Championship. These are very good players in their side, and they had only just beaten London Welsh on their travels.

“They just couldn’t stop us. We had the ball, and we were electric, we were attacking left and right and going through them. It was an amazing performance from the boys. It was quite incredible to just be there. That side was fantastic. There were outstanding performances right across the board, but Sean Ingle was exceptional.

“In my time, it’s the best we’ve played, yes, but other people are claiming it’s the best the team have played in a very long time, but I wasn’t there. We were electric.”

It was a result that will have raised eyebrows across the Regional 1 South Central Division and one which all but ends Jersey’s hopes of the title and promotion. Before kicking off on Saturday, they were very much back in the mix to pip leaders London Welsh with a few games left to play. Maids meanwhile are now safely ensconced in mid-table ahead of their final matches at third placed CS Stags on Saturday and Horsham at home on the final day.

“We are a young team and to see that belief and maturity of the team was wonderful,” added Mobbs-Smith.

“To just be there on the day was wonderful. It’s denied them any chance of promotion. Jersey would have been disappointed with some of their play and not looked on it as being our wonderful play.

“But they couldn’t quell us in those opening 25 minutes. Turton got a hat-trick, Sean Ingle got two, Alex French opened the account with a wonderful barging run from 20 minutes out. That set the tone, it was early in the game. Suddenly we were away.

“We had French, Ingle, Turton and Prince all back. They gave us that attacking power we need. French and Ingle going through the middle and Turton and Prince caused havoc out wide. It gave us the weapons to play the brand of rugby we like to play. They were big pluses to have back in the team.

On their remaining league fixtures, Mobbs-Smith said: “We have a tough game away at CS Rugby on Saturday. They are third in the league and comfortable in that position. That will be a tough game, but we’ll go there and play a brand of rugby we’ve been trying to play all season.

“We have had a number of last kick of the game victories, Bracknell and Jersey. That’s 10 points in the league. Old Alleynians was a late win.

“We’ve got 15 or 20 points that we might not have had. Some people must think Alex Ferguson is sitting up in the bar. No one can say they haven’t been entertained. They’ve had heart attacks and celebrations within minutes of each other.”