Match report courtesy of the

Saturday 5th January 2008

IT WAS a far from happy new year for Maids who slipped to a 36-8 mauling at a wet and windy Weston-super-Mare on Saturday. A poor second-half display undermined any hopes Maids had of recording what would have been only the club's second victory at Weston's Recreation Ground.

A tight first half ended with the scores deadlocked at 8-8, but Maids conceded 28 second-half points and scored none in reply as Weston romped to what was eventually a very comfortable victory.

The signs had been good for Maids, who were ahead as early as the second minute. Fly-half Mark Armstrong's poor cross kick was gathered by Deego Arends who raced 50 metres towards the line before off-loading to the supporting Jonny Hammond who slid across the sodden surface to score.

But Weston got back on track two minutes later, their pack disrupting a Maids scrum to earn a penalty which Armstrong slotted from 30 metres. The hosts were ahead 10 minutes later with a try of their own, David Burge crashing through after a strong catch and drive from the line-out as Weston led 8-5.

Maids continued to threaten, and they eventually levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time, Simon Swadling sweeping over a straightforward penalty to make it 8-8. But that was as it good as it got for the visitors. They barely threatened for the next 30 minutes, as Weston took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Their pack were rampant, dominating the set pieces and terrorising Maids at the ruck and maul. So it was no surprise when Weston restored their lead, Tobias Gukibau crashing over from a driving maul and Armstrong converted. Maids fell further behind 15 minutes later when Weston's No.8 George Sparks touched down after the pack had driven over from a five metre-scrum.

It got worse two minutes later when Gukibau scored his second, after good work from Sparks and Luke Hember. Defeat was complete soon after as a tired and under pressure Maids pack collapsed three five-metre scrums in quick succession. The referee had no alternative but to award the penalty try as Weston eased to a 36-8 win.

Weston: Warman, Crichton, Madamombe, Reid, Sprague, Armstrong, Hember, Smith, Burge, Gukibau, Richards, Russell, Cook, Hobbs, Sparks. Subs: Hunt, Ball, Young.

Maidenhead: Swadling, Arends, Cripps, Hammond, Mackay, Ruddick, Edwards, O'Byrne, Craig, Blackwell, Babich, Mueller, Gallina, Kertesz, Riley. Subs: Gull, Young, Cheney.