With Abbey brimming with confidence and an expectation of denying Maidenhead an unbeaten season the match started with a crowd filled with tension and anticipation.

Abbey got off to a poor start with Maidenhead intercepting a pass as Abbey sought to attack from their own 22. An unchallenged run to the whitewash and a successful conversion put Abbey behind by seven points.

Abbey forced their way back into the fray with the pack leading the charge, the front row of Lewis Pedrick, Ross Jaffray and Ed Wisener taking the game to Maidenhead. Tom Willis and Matt Simmons always bright, alert and involved in securing loose ball at the ruck.

Abbey’s opportunity to get back in the match came from a set piece just inside their own half as Sam Wisely fed Remi Norville at outside half. Norville sending the ball out wide found Mikey Phillips, with pace to spare, out run the Maidenhead defenders to score in the corner. Charlie Wilkinson missing a difficult conversion attempt from the touchline.

Maidenhead’s response was instantaneous with an initial attack thwarted out wide on the left flank Maidenhead recycled the ball and extended the gap with a conversion.

With the half time whistle blown the score was Abbey A 5 – 14 Maidenhead.

The second half started with Abbey piling on the pressure with unanswered tries from Barnaby Adam and two from Mo Tahir. Barnaby Adam successfully adding one conversion for a 22 – 14 lead going into the final stages of the match.

With the referee looking at his watch Maidenhead launched one more attack and breached the Abbey defence, again being successful with the conversion to secure a losing bonus point and the Berkshire League with the last play of the game.

Final Score Abbey A 22 – 21 Maidenhead A.

Man of the Match went to Mo Tahir.

Abbey A can look back on a hugely successful season, beating the eventual Berkshire League winners and achieving Berkshire League Runners Up, missing out on top spot by one point.