Maids' fixures for National 3 released as two props depart club

Promoted Maidenhead RFC have been handed three away matches in the first four weeks of their new season in National 3 South West.

The difficult start commences on September 5 with a trip to West-super-Mare followed by another jaunt to the south west when they visit Exmouth.

A clash at Braywick against Old Patesians on September 19 is their first chance to play in front of a home crowd, but the next Saturday they are on the road again going to Oxford Harlequins.

Although this is not the perfect way to start life in a new division, Maids head coach Ricky Khan is taking it as a challenge and a useful yardstick to measure his team’s suitability to compete at this higher level.

He said: “It’s not ideal for us, but it’s not a disaster by any means. It’ll give us a good idea of what’s required at this level and will be a good test for us.

“What’s more important is that we get into some rhythm with our pre-season matches against Tring and Hertford.

“As last season we will be concentrating on defence, which served us well, but we have players of real quality in the squad who should also be capable of getting into the list of top points scorers by the end of the season.”

The squad are due to start pre-season training on June 23 - after Khan has had a week’s holiday in France - and it is not until then that the Maids coach will start to know the make-up of his squad.

Some players will not be available including props Richard Hoskins and Adam Kemsley, who have been tempted by the chequebook recruiting of Bracknell RFC, while Will Page will be away travelling. Influential backrower Greg Riley has returned to Australia.

However, Khan is certain his current players, and any which he brings in, will do the job required of them, saying: “We are an amateur rugby club and are not really in a position to compete with clubs who pay.

“However, we have a great bunch of lads here, most of who come back year after year because they love playing at the club and want to do well for Maidenhead. That’s really important.

“Of course, I’m always looking to strengthen the squad, but at the moment I’m not looking outside the Thames Valley to do this. I suppose at some stage we might have to look abroad, but it’s not something we are currently planning for.

“We have Andre Botha, who is South African, in the squad, and we are happy to develop the players we have.”

Khan, who now says he really feels part of the club having been there for 12 months, said Maids’ aim for the season is consolidation.

He said: “We are up against some tough teams, but no-one we haven’t done well against in the past and can do well against again.”