A DAMAGING 18-10 defeat to fellow promotion-chasers Chippenham has left Maidenhead RFC with a real headache.
Until Saturday’s disappointing result in Wiltshire, Maids were on course for a title showdown with Oxford Harlequins.
However, they must now beat Swanage & Wareham, when the two sides meet in March, just to secure a play-off spot.
Meanwhile, the Harlequins go from strength to strength, leaving Maids praying for a slip-up.
Manager Tony Brooks said: “It is disappointing, but it’s not a disaster. To a certain extent we are relying on others to slip up now, which does make it difficult.
“But then again we still have to play the other top sides, and they still have to go to Chippenham.
“It’s a difficult place to go and get a result, so you never know. We’ll just take this defeat on the chin, keep our heads held high and get on with the next one.”
One reason for Saturday’s result was the forwards’ unwillingness to release the ball to the backs.
“As a result, on the rare occasions the backs did receive the ball, they were invariably on the back-foot and facing the massed ranks of the Chippenham defence.
Brooks said: “I‘ve told the guys I would rather make five yards and give the ball going forwards, than make 20 yards and give the ball going backwards.
“I think we just need more belief in our ability to take sides on and I’m hoping to address that on Saturday (tomorrow).”

Tomorrow (Saturday), lowly Amersham & Chiltern visit Braywick, looking to move away from the relegation zone with a win.
On paper, this game should be a top-versus-bottom mismatch, but Brooks is taking nothing for granted.
He said: “None of our games are easy, and the ones you think you might be comfortable with turn out to be the difficult ones. When we played them on their patch it was a difficult game. But we have a very different team now, and we’re looking forward to it.
“I just hope the guys go out and do themselves justice.”