A HUGE crowd of more than 600 people turned out to watch Maidenhead RFC crush Swanage & Wareham’s title hopes in an enthralling clash at Braywick on Saturday.
In a tough, uncompromising encounter, Maids’ awesome defence finally proved decisive, while the narrow 23-18 winning scoreline sent them to the top of the table.
Ecstatic coach Simon Edwards said: “It was a cracking game of rugby, both sides were up for it, and the best team won.
“These are the games I enjoy. They test me as a coach. But all credit goes to the players.
“It's the culmination of a long hard slog for us. We’ve been chasing them all season and now we’ve beaten them.
“We set our target three months ago, to win every game. Now, for the first time all season, it (promotion) is entirely in our own hands.”
But Edwards also emphasised the important role the crowd had played in the victory.
He said: “I would like to thank the support we had on Saturday.
“There’s no question supporters can win tight games and I felt the town turned out for us.
“I would love to see crowds like that regularly. I think they got a good game and hope they enjoyed it.”

The club has another huge game on Sunday, as Maidenhead’s Colts take on Bishop’s Stortford in the quarter-final of the Colts National Knockout Cup at Braywick, kick-off 2.30pm.

WITH a two-point lead at the top of the league, all Maidenhead have to do is win their three remaining fixtures and the automatic promotion spot back to South West 1 is theirs.
However, Maidenhead coach Simon Edwards is still playing his cards very close to his chest.
He said: “The league isn't won until the fat lady sings, so I’m still taking it one game at a time.”
Next up is a Berkshire County Cup clash on Sunday, kick-off 2.30pm at Braywick.
However, only a handful of 1st team players are eligible for the game, leaving Edwards free to focus on next week's trip to Wimborne.
He said: “Wimborne are third from bottom and three teams are going down, so they're not going to lie down.
“They have beaten Abbey and Marlow down there, so it's not a game we're taking for granted."
If Maids can overcome Wimborne, their next fixture is a home clash with Oakmeadians, who have produced several surprise results this season, including a 17-10 victory over Swanage & Wareham.
Edwards added: “They also have a point to prove.
“We went down there and took away their three-season unbeaten record.
“My feeling is they are going to come up here and try and break ours.”
Finally, and assuming Swanage do not slip up, Maids will still need to beat local rivals Marlow at Riverwoods to clinch the title, a match which always creates sparks.
“That will just be a huge, one-off cup game,” said Edwards.
“I just hope the season is already over for both of us by then, so it's just a good festival game.”