SLOUGH 19 MILTON KEYNES 30

Milton Keynes were welcomed to Slough with a vocal croud numbers swollen with players from a pre match warm up, with Slough players from the 70`s and 80`s playing Olney Occasional`s and gave Slough a distinct advantage.
The game started with Slough on the attack and the game was only 6 minutes in when Slough were awarded a kickable penalty but they choose to go for the line out, their forwards scrummed the ball down the blind side and the slough prop broke away to score, a successful conversation put Slough in the lead by 7.
The game now beginning to spark into action with the home side going for long kicks up field but the ball was played with style by the Milton Keynes defending well, Slough changed tactics and sent their winger on a blistering run, Daniel Rolfe was on hand to take the ball carries into touch, the resulting line was secured by the home forwards the ball spun out to the wing and Slough increased their lead with a try in the corner, to 12.
With just 10 left to half time and more drama to unfold, unfortunately hooker Neil Forton had to leave the field with a neck injury and took no further part in the game, Milton Keynes put a move together and almost scored in the corner, Slough were deemed off side and a penalty in front of the posts was easy meat for Phil Powell, at last Milton Keynes had points on the scoreboard, shortly after Darren Brodrick was yellow carded Slough came back again bur the visitors defence stood firm.
Milton Keynes seemed to feel that they could take this game from the buoyant Slough and from a scrappy line out won by Milton Keynes the ball spun down the three quarter line and a try in the corner, touch down by Rob Matthews put the visitors back into the game the score moving to 8 – 12. Powell missed the conversion and still one more attack from Slough was hold at bay and the half time score ended at 8---12. Half time whistle ended the half, enough time for all to draw breath.

Milton Keynes started the second half and within a matter of minutes, Milton Keynes were awarded a penalty way out in the wing and a good 40 metres out Phil Powell fancied his changes and kicked the sweetest penalty to put the visitors just 1 point adrift.
Just a couple of minutes on and another long range penalty, this time Powell hit the upright.
Milton Keynes seemed to have rediscovered the flare that continued to the end of last season, the defence was tight the burst of speed from the three quarters was back, however Slough were not finished and they pinned the Valley lads into their own 22 meter area for an unbelievable 20 minutes, but the defence was good and no matter how they tried Slough could not cross the line.
Finally Milton Keynes were given a penalty under the posts and Phil Powell kicked the ball into the Slough half, after soaking up this pressure Milton Keynes played with confidence, on 25 minutes the visitors finally broke through the defence, Scott Aspinall dived into the corner to score, Phil Powell still punishing Slough, kicked the conversion from the touchline and Milton Keyes were in the lead for the first time in the match 12---18.
Slough were far from finished but the Milton Keynes defence was as rewarding to watch as the attacks.
The forwards took the pressure from the three`s and after working closer and closer to the line Darren Brodrick scored, Phil Powell missed this conversion, but Milton Keynes moved further to a safe level on points difference of 12---23.
Now with just minutes to the end of the game and Milton Keynes had 1 more try in Daniel Rolfe, breaking through tackles, got his reward for a solid game, Powell`s 2 points finished the day 12--30
One last answer from Slough with Milton Keynes safe, scored under the posts, with the 2 points the final score 19----30.

Next Saturday Milton Keynes play Tadley at the Valley.