MAIDS had their first taste of defeat in South West 2 (East) on Saturday, leaking two late tries in a 25-10 reverse at Swanage & Wareham.
With many first team regulars still unavailable, the result is not perhaps surprising, as the Swans finished in the runners-up spot last term and beat Maids home and away.
However, the real surprise was that the Dorset side took the full 80 minutes to put the game beyond their depleted guests.
Coach Breton Fielke said: “Thirty minutes into the second half we were only 13-10 down. I thought 'hang on, we might score here and nick a win'. But in the end two simple scores finished it off.”
And Fielke did not have to look far for an explanation for his side's defeat.
Missing an experienced hooker, young flanker Ric Barber had been moved into the front row for this clash and it was here the game was ultimately lost, as Barber struggled to secure possession in the scrum and repeatedly missed his jumpers at the lineout.
Not that Barber himself attracted any blame, having only begun practising his throwing earlier that week.
Fielke added: “He gave 100 per cent. He was just trying to do a job for us and he got stuck in and had a go. It was very tough ask.
“But we only won two or three lineouts all day and if you concede 30 or so first-phase balls you're going to struggle.
“You can't put pressure on them if you're always giving them the ball back.”
However, it was not just the first phase which caused Maids problems.
Club chief executive Simon Edwards said: “We played for 80 minutes with very, very limited first phase ball and very limited second phase ball, because we were always second to the breakdown.”
“At 13-10 we were on top. There's no question, they (Swanage) were on the back foot and it was only a matter of time before we scored.
“But because we never took any lineout ball we never got any quality ball to use.
“Then they scored two breakaway tries. It flattered them.
“But we went down there with a three-quarter strength side, so we're only going to get better.
“Although, there's still a lot of work to do on the defence.”

Buckingham have pulled out of tomorrow's (Saturday's) scheduled PowerGen Cup clash at Braywick, but Maids have already arranged a friendly against Aylesbury in its place, also at Braywick, kick-off 3pm.
Many clubs might welcome a bye into the next round of this prestigious cup, but Fielke, who is targeting success in the league thinks differently, adding: “The sooner we get out of the cup the better as far as I'm concerned.”