AFTER a disappointing defeat against Stroud, Maidenhead coach Simon Edwards promised better things against Weston-Super-Mare.
However, two weeks can be a long time in rugby and Edwards is now admitting his side will struggle when they travel to Somerset tomorrow (Saturday).
He said: “I’m back in an injury crisis.
“Rene Dance is still out with his shoulder problem, Robbie Bryant was concussed in the game against Stroud and won’t be able to play for another week, Andy Barron is in Australia and refuses to fly home for the match, Chris Perkins is injured, Dan Walton damaged his shoulder in the last game and Allan Greene’s calf muscle has gone again.
“So we are back to square one.
“I can’t even name a team yet until I know who will be fit.”
But even with a full strength squad it was always going to be a difficult task to come home with anything more than a modicum of pride.
Weston have conceded a measly 89 points in their eight league games to date and have only suffered a single defeat.
On top of that, they put 38 points past Chinnor in the Intermediate Cup last week.
Edwards said: “On that sort of form we can expect them to put 80 points past us.
“But we have had three good results recently and it would be great if we could win it.
“We know their strengths. They are very well organised, they’re big and they have a very powerful pack.
“We will try to exploit their weaknesses, if they have any.
“All we can do is play to our strengths and keep it tight.”
But there was obvious disappointment in his voice at the prospect of a sound thrashing.
He added: “I was hoping to go down there with a full strength squad and pose some questions. Unfortunately, now it’s not looking that way. It’s a shame, but that’s the way it goes.”