Maids travelled to Oxford on Sunday and maintained their 100% record in the OBB leagues with a thoroughly convincing win by 7 goals to 3 tries.

The game started ominously for Maidenhead, with a much larger Barbarians team getting the better of the early exchanges to run in an unconverted try. Within minutes, however, centre Mike Skelton produced a flash of inspiration to intercept the ball in the Ba Ba’s backs and run in a try under the posts, which was converted by Dean Rogers.

The game then developed a pattern which was to last for most of the match. Maids’ lightweight pack used skill and technique to control the scrums and lines out, allowing their fast and skilful backs sufficient controlled possession to dominate the open play. Oxford relied on rugby league tactics to grind out the hard yards, running their powerful forwards into the Maids’ defence. However, the defence held firm and with the Barbarians unwilling to let the ball out beyond their inside centre, they were unable to convert their frequent sieges of the Maidenhead line into points.

Maidenhead added to heir lead when the three quarters broke out from their own 22 to send in winger James Henley for an excellent try, again converted by Rogers. Maids took their lead to 21 – 5 when fullback James Kudamaku came into the line to score the first of his three tries in the match. Rogers added the conversion.

Oxford took advantage of a rare mistake in their opponents scrum to score a try from a ball won against the head. Maids replied straight from the kick-off, with Skelton scoring perhaps the try of the match, cutting running angles first right and then left to scythe through the defence, leaving an easy conversion for Rogers.

Oxford was by no means a beaten side and their forwards drove them back up the pitch for a try from a short penalty. At half-time the score was 15 – 28 and by no means yet won by Maids.

Maids’ better discipline enabled them to shut the gates on the Barbarians in the second half. The referee had no compunction in sin binning two Oxford players for tackling offences and James Kudamaku was happy to punish them with two powerful tries. Hooker, Carl Clarke fed No 8 David Sewell, who capped an excellent performance with a third. Tom Miller kicked all three conversions.

Oxford heads went down and it was no surprise when Tom Miller scored a last minute try, converted by Rogers.

Maids have one more game to play in the initial league programme, but can already look forward to promotion in the second half of the season. After an excellent team effort fund raising at B&Q on Saturday, they can also start to focus on their tour to Rome in February, with Don and Jan Skelton matching off the pitch Mike’s performances on it.