MAIDENHEAD'S victory over title rivals Swanage & Wareham may have won them the battle but the war goes on.
With just a two-point cushion at the top, Maids have to keep winning to ensure promotion back to South West 1.
That campaign continues tomorrow (Saturday) with a trip to Wimborne.
The Dorset side lost 38-29 to Salisbury on Saturday, leaving them hovering above the relegation zone on points-difference alone.
Consequently, they will be fighting for their lives.
Maids coach Simon Edwards said: “We always seem to cop these games. It’s the classic banana skin, straight after the Lord Mayor’s Show. This is the one that can make or break our season, so we’ll be preparing for this one just as hard as we did for Swanage.
“We have to win every game. We mustn’t give Swanage a sniff.”
Anyone hoping to predict what sort of game it will be need look no further than the league statistics, which show that more than 70 per cent of Wimborne’s tries are scored by their pack.
They are also dangerous at home, where they have already beaten third-placed Abbey.
Edwards said: “They (Wimborne) have the biggest pack in the league and they play to their strengths. As England found last week, most games are won and lost up front, so we have to take them on in their own area.
“No poor side beats Abbey, so I’m sure it will be a huge battle up front. But when that battle is over, hopefully we’ll get some sensible ball to use out wide.”
The injury news seems to be flowing in Edwards’ favour, with second-row Jacques Botha looking likely to make a recovery in time for tomorrow’s clash.
However, more exciting squad news is that Henley Hawks scrum-half Ben Ayres has signed for the club.
Edwards said: “He was out of contract at Henley and he teaches locally at Desborough.
“He looked class in training last night. He’s a big lad and he’s strong and powerful. He’ll be on the bench on Saturday.”
However, Edwards was keen to allay fears that other players would have to move aside to make way for Ayres, adding: “We’re hoping for promotion and all I’m doing is strengthening the squad for next season. We’re not getting rid of Razor (Mark) Ruddick .
“He’s had a fantastic season and he’s far too good a player not to be in the squad.”

Sunday’s scheduled Berkshire Cup derby between Maidenhead and Windsor was called off on Friday, with Windsor claiming they could not raise a team.
Edwards was furious, saying: “It’s a poor show. If you can’t put 15 players out from a club of that size you shouldn’t enter it.”