Maidenhead set for London Scottish Lions test as survival battle intensifies

Chris Gill scoring against Bracknell. Photo: Paul Morgan

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Maidenhead face another huge test of their survival capabilities when London Scottish Lions bring their brand of exciting rugby to Braywick Park on Saturday.

The Lions have been one of this season’s surprise packages, taking the Regional 1 South Central Division by storm after claiming promotion.

Consolidation clearly wasn’t something they contemplated in pre-season, and they’ve excelled at this level, rising to second in the table – behind only runaway league leaders Jersey – ahead of Saturday’s visit.

There recent form has been patchier. They defeated Farnham 35-27 at home in their most recent clash, but lost 45-24 to Worthing in their last away match, something which might give Maids some hope ahead of Saturday’s game.

In contrast, Maidenhead have had a surprisingly poor season by their own standards and head into their final six matches in real danger of being

relegated.

Two weeks ago, they lost a close encounter 38-26 away to relegation rivals Wimbledon, a result which dropped them into the bottom two below Camberley and Wimbledon.

They must now better the results and points haul of both those teams to avoid automatic relegation as one of the bottom two teams in the division. And on paper, they have a tougher run-in and will play four of the top five sides, excluding Jersey, in the final weeks of the season.

Four of their final six matches are at Braywick Park though, where historically, they’ve been much stronger in recent seasons.

They currently sit four points behind ninth placed Wimbledon and two adrift of Camberley. Camberley will be confident of picking up some points from their trip to bottom club Hammersmith & Fulham – although Maidenhead desperately needs a victory from the one team still beneath them in the table. Wimbledon face a trickier away test - in theory – away to fifth placed Old Alleynians.

The teams finishing ninth and 10th this season will take each other on in a relegation play-off at the end of the season. The loser of that clash will play a team aspiring for promotion from the level below.

The teams finishing second and third in the division - currently London Scottish Lions and Tunbridge Wells - will also play-off for the chance of promotion in a match against a team from the level above.

In the Regional 2 Thames Division, relegation-threatened Windsor face a tough home game against Belsize Park while sixth placed Marlow travel to the team just beneath them in the standings, Aylesbury 1sts. Marlow got the better of Teddington 47-24 in their last home match while Windsor were humbled 99-7 away by leaders Brunel University, a result which pitched them back into the bottom two, now four points behind London Wild Geese who defeated Harpenden 38-29 at home to move above Andy Symons’ side.