HAVING played just twice since Christmas, Maidenhead RFC now face seven consecutive league matches in which to secure their future in South West Division 1.
They start this crucial period with a ‘banker’ against Dorchester tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 2.15pm, who have picked up just one win in 14 outings.
Having beaten them 65-13 earlier in the seaon, Maids will be confident that they can achieve the win they need to kick-start their season.
However games against bottom-placed teams create their own pressure, even for a club that is just one place above them.
This is not just another ‘must win’ game, this is THE ‘must win’ game.
A defeat for Maids is unthinkable in the cirumstances.
Maids’ coach Simon Edwards is fully aware of the importance of the fixture
“We can’t kid ourselves. We need to pull out all the stops and win. It’s no good playing well, and being told we are too good to go down, if we don’t win.”
However on a positive note, Edwards has drafted Simon Ward into the squad.
The England A under 18 centre, now turned 18, will play some part in the game tomorrow, although Edwards says he has to be selective.
Edwards commented: “It’s a great opportunity for Simon, and I’m pleased for him, but we need to be careful. I would rather have done it when we were on a winning run, but we’ve decided to give him a try.”
Maids’ game on Saturday at Barnstaple was postponed because of the heavy rain in the West Country.
It has been rescheduled for February 16.
WARD’S colts teammate Jon Hammand played for England Schools in their narrow defeat by New Zealand Schools at Twickenham on Wednesday.