Braywick plays host to Bracknell vs Jersey ahead of crushing win for Maids 2nds

The frozen conditions across the region made for an unexpectedly interesting afternoon at Braywick Park on Saturday, where Bracknell made a last-minute change of venue to play their game with promotion hopefuls Jersey RFC before Maidenhead's second team enjoyed an emphatic victory over Thatcham RFC.

With Maidenhead 1sts' trip to third placed Camberley postponed because of the icy pitch conditions, attention quickly turned to helping Bracknell out with their home game against Jersey - with the game kicking off at 1pm.

A cracking contest between Bracknell and Jersey - which ended in a narrow 26-28 win for the visitors - was followed by a commanding 66-0 win for Maidenhead 2nds over Thatcham.

Maidenhead's first team coach David Mobbs-Smith watched both games and felt it was a fantastic day at the club.

Afterwards, he posted: “Another great day at Braywick. First an excellent match between Bracknell and Jersey (26-28) followed by the post-match celebrations for Maidenhead's 2nds against a very dapper attired Thatcham. Good times. January ain't that bad.”

The 66-0 victory for Maidenhead 2nds lifted them above Beaconsfield 2nds up to third in the Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon South. They are now just three points behind second placed Tadley having played a game more. The two teams are set to play each other this Saturday, with Maids going into the clash on a high after an inconsistent run of form heading into the Christmas break.

The Regional 1 South Central table was awash with postponements on Saturday due to the weather, meaning Maidenhead's first XV remain eighth - two points behind Old Alleynians and three ahead of Hammersmith & Fulham - heading into a traditional well contested home game with Bracknell this weekend.

Having run Jersey so close at Braywick on Saturday, the visitors will be looking forward to their return there this Saturday to play a Maidenhead team who've lost their last four matches - albeit to teams in the top five.

They now enter a more winnable run of matches, however, their trip to Camberley has already been rescheduled for Saturday, January 25.

Both Windsor and Marlow also saw their matches postponed this weekend due to frozen pitches.

Andy Symons' side had been due to host Buckingham at Home Park while Marlow were looking to kick off 2025 with a positive result at Old Haberdashers, a team they defeated 50-12 at home earlier in the table.

Windsor sit second in the Counties 1 Tribute Southern North - with an impressive 10 wins from their 12 matches so far - but they still find themselves 13 points behind leaders Oxford Harlequins 2nds who have won all 13 of their matches. Windsor are due to visit Bracknell 2nds this Saturday and will look to maintain the consistency they showed in the first half of the season to press their claims for promotion. .

In Regional 2 Thames, Marlow host H.A.C (Honourable Artillery Company) at Riverwoods this Saturday hoping for a fourth win in five matches having lost out to Beaconsfield 19-40 in their last match before Christmas. H.A.C are third in the table, just four points adrift of leaders London Scottish Lions.