Buenos Aires got their own back in the second game. They started fast with good simple handling and confident running. Maids put in some good tackles to start with, James Hibberdine, Daniel AJ and Michael Anderson all dropping their targets with style. But suddenly a tackle was missed and through the gap went the scrumhalf, a step and a swerve, 7-0 after only two minutes. Sensibly Dom Bart opted to kick a penalty and get some points up. This BA pack were very well drilled and looked much more a unit than the first selection. They drove well with good body positions and they did it in twos and threes. Even if Maids had hands on the ball they found themselves losing ground. Their scrum was taut as well and the next try came from a ball forced loose from a Maidenhead put in – another pickup and scuttle by the same player, converted for 14-3.
Maids came back with verve, Alex Avery running almost in on the left wing. BA defended furiously and gave away four or five penalties in succession within 5 metres. When another tap led to a turnover and run back only stopped by a flying Hibberdine last man. Bart wisely elected to settle for 3 points from the next penalty.
Maids were actually playing pretty well, Will Thompson kicking diagonally for centres Lawrence MacSwan and DAJ. Nothing quite went to hand however and the last such attack of the half was just a bit long. The BA fullback launched a counter and fed his strong and quick left wing. DAJ tracked him back and knocked him down but could not prevent the kick ahead and infield. The bounce favoured the chaser and another goal made it 21-6 at halftime.
The second half started with a fantastic outside break by MacSwan, almost from 22 to 22. He turned inside looking for support but only found defenders. Hal Orchard's pickup and drive from the resulting ruck went close. Back came BA, now trying a few rolling mauls and making lots of ground. The pressure told and a well-worked inside pass put a centre through a narrow gap between two forwards feeling the pace.
26-6 starts to look a tall order but Maids were not finished. Maybe the BA forwards were now tiring because Maids began to win some cleaner ball. Once the outside backs found some space, MacSwan, AJ and Anderson began to win some footraces and the BA defence was stretched. Sure enough MacSwan finished a wide move and Bart hit the post to narrow the gap to 26-11. Maybe it could have been saved even now but a mildly controversial try which both teams seemed to think was held up (BA had almost to be persuaded to take a conversion) slammed the door shut. There was time for Calum O'Flaherty to crown a strong display with a try out wide right before the final whistle.
One game all on the day was probably a fair outcome. The two sets of mixed teams served up good entertainment and played in fine spirit.
Squad: McCarthy, Anderson, Andrews-Jones, MacSwan, Hibberdine, Thompson, Thomas (VC), Avery A, Jones, Nicol, Orchard, Baxter, Cronbach, Bart (Capt.), O'Flaherty, Hull, Keir, O'Callen-Smith, Eckles
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