Following Windsor Colts 1st round win over Bracknell Colts, our U18s moved on to play Maidenhead Colts on Sunday in the last 64 (round 2) of the National U18 Cup.
Windsor forced to juggle the playing squad to cope with ongoing ACE academy/school unavailability and a growing injury list, expected stiff competition from our local rivals.
With the backdrop of the Windsor Minis festival, and a excellent vocal support form the touchline (including more than 20 unavailable Windsor Colts!), the home team set about the task in hand… a place in the last 32 of the Cup.
After a toughly contested first quarter, Windsor started to assert some dominance over their visitors resulting in a number of pick & go’s by the pack close to the Maidenhead try line that gifted the opportunity for scrum half Jackson Stone to dart over for our first score, a try converted in front of the posts by Albert Nandan. Windsor up & running, 7-0. The Windsor support then had to wait another 20 min for Windsor’s next opportunity, an excellent break out from open side Charlie Hedley, and a 30m weaving run for an unconverted try. Windsor were dominating proceedings, and in the run up to half time, created another two well-taken tries - a brace for flying winger, James Warnell, one of them from 50m out, outpacing Maidenhead cover, with one conversion by Ben Mongey. Windsor were 24-0 up at the break, and appeared to be cruising into the 3rd round.
Windsor rotated the changes for the 2nd half, and similarly Maidenhead adjusted, but kicked off looking like a different team - more competitive and despite being 4 scores down, hungry to make amends. And so they did, their first score, a try from their ever present scrum half, followed 10 mins later by another unconverted score to claw back to 24-10. Windsor still had a good lead, but were now under pressure. Into the last quarter and with a rampant Maidenhead, the visitors crossed the line for another two unconverted scores, and had now scored 20 unanswered points, to claw back to 24-20.
Windsor tried to address some of the gaps that were now appearing in their defensive line but Maidenhead kept coming, with just 5 mins to go, Windsor were definitely in squeaky bum territory. However, Windsor dug deep, camped in Maidenhead half, and in the closing minutes put James Warnell into space for the winger to gallop through for his 3-try hatrick, and seal the win for the home team.

Not a classic 2nd half, but a toughed out win, and into the last 32 of the National U18s Cup…at Home Park on 17th November, against powerhouse Rosslyn Park, after their close home win over Camberley RFC. KO still to be confirmed but a large vocal Windsor crowd requested. Please!

Jason Stone WINDSOR RFC Colts Manager