Match report and photo courtesy of the

Maids battered by classy Clifton

Maidenhead were brought down to earth by a comprehensive defeat to a useful Clifton side on Saturday, although the margin of victory slightly flattered the home side. Clifton pressed from the start, bringing all their backs into play with short, quick passing, which proved to be the pattern of the game. A promising early Maids attack was spoilt by Cripps throwing away a wild pass in the tackle, and fly-half Barnes sent the ball spiralling into touch on the visitors’ line. A clean catch and drive saw Clifton open the scoring with a try for flanker Levis, converted by Barnes. Maidenhead full-back Rob Hawkins then missed a straight-forward penalty, before Barnes put Clifton further ahead, when Maids were harshly penalised for some strong tackling in midfield. With a plentiful supply of ball, Barnes began to demonstrate his sleight of hand with short, quick passing bringing the home threes into action and putting the Maids defence under pressure. Flanker Levis scored his second try from a simple move and Barnes kicked another penalty for a late tackle to give Clifton a lead of 18-0. The contrast between the sides was becoming increasingly apparent, with Maids’ attacks relying on individual breaks by Cripps, Hammond and Ayres, which all faltered through lack of support, wild off-loading or dropped passes, while Clifton’s short passing game, supporting the runner, was proving very effective. Clifton were also dominating the lineout, with the Maids jumpers finding it difficult to locate much of the throwing in by debutant hooker Cox. Just before half-time a poor kick by Ayres in a midfield attacking position was charged down by home No.8 Streetskamp, who made a long run up the centre. He was chased and caught by Cripps, but he found hooker Lambert in support to score under the posts Barnes then kicked another penalty from a crunching tackle by Hammond, judged to be illegal, to give Clifton a half-time lead of 30-0. Immediately after the restart Maidenhead had their best period of play, but attacks by Ayres, Hammond, Cripps and Greer were all contained by sound Clifton defence. Against the run of play Clifton increased their lead with slick handling from broken play putting winger Sills over in the corner. Whenever Maids made attacking progress they were continually sent back by long, accurate touch kicks from Barnes, who became more influential as the game went on. Gaps were now appearing in the Maids defence and hard work by Ayres, Vorster and Lowden could not prevent another try from hooker Lambert. Martin came on for Hawkins and Morgan for Jones, but Maids were still unable to get on the scoresheet, spurning at least three chances for easy penalties and going for tries instead. Clifton rounded off the scoring with an easy try and conversion by Lambert to show a slightly flattering final score of 54-0. The lack of lineout ball and the tendency for the backs to attack as individuals rather than as a unit will give coach Simon Edwards plenty to work on before tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) cup clash with Bracknell.

MAIDENHEAD coach Simon Edwards was spitting tacks after Saturday’s heavy defeat at Clifton. However, his anger was directed not at the result, but at what he considered a woeful performance. He said: “I would like to have come away – if not with a victory – at least with a moral victory. “But now they know they can come up here and do what they like. That really hurt me. “I was very upset by our performance and I don’t want to be humiliated like that again. “It’s not acceptable and if things don’t change we have a very serious job ahead of us.” Outlining the main difference between the two sides, he explained: “We put 65 points on Penryn last week with a good performance, but we still conceded 20. “Clifton put 54 on us and conceded none, because they fought for their lives whenever we got near their line. They battled and battled and we couldn’t score. “That’s what a championship-winning side does. “That’s the difference, and that’s what we have to address.” Paying further homage to his hosts, Edwards added: “They were bigger, more physical, more streetwise and sharper than us.” However, he also noted several contributing factors, saying: “I don’t think we’ll play that badly again this year, and I don’t think you’ll see them (Clifton) play any better “There was also the very poor refereeing for both sides. By the end, none of the players knew what they were allowed to do.” Edwards is also ruing the loss of several important players, all from the pack. He said: “Allan Greene, Cormac (O’Byrne) and De Wett (Booysen) haven’t been replaced, and Nick Kertesz is out for the season with a shoulder injury. “That’s four big players we’ve lost. But we’ve got what we’ve got, and we have to get on with it.” Maidenhead make the short trip to National 3 side Bracknell tomorrow (Saturday), in the Powergen National Trophy, kick-off 3pm. This is the two sides’ first meeting since the 1997/98 season, when they were in the South West 1 league together. Maidenhead have been drawn against teams from higher leagues on five previous occasions in a national cup competition but unfortunately are yet to knock any of them out! Edwards said: “On paper we don’t stand a cat in hell’s chance. “It isn’t a game I had targeted, but now it’s an important game. “It’s about the progression of this team. “If we don’t improve on Saturday’s performance we have a real problem. “I believe we can go there and give them a game, but if we go in with last week’s attitude we’ll get smacked. “It’ll be the same team that lost on Saturday, and this week they have to perform, or I’ll be spitting nails. “There are a lot of players whose places are on the line. “They’ve really got me riled.”