Late show fails to save Maids

Maids put up a spirited second half display but still fell to a heavy 41-17 defeat against Barnstaple at Braywick this afternoon.

The home side, who had to battle for an hour with 14 men following Alex Cannon's red cad for stamping, crossed three times after the break to salvage some pride from their day's work.

After a scoreless first 20 minutes Neil Giddy opened the scoring for the visitors when he slotted a penalty between the posts after Cannon had been sent from the field.

Phil Gordon picked up the first try of the game when he bundled over on the half hour mark and moments later Johnny Carter touched down in the corner to finish off a fine Barnstaple move. Giddy kicked the extras.

The half closed with another try for the visitors, Mark Galliford scoring under the posts with Giddy converting to make it 22-0 at the break.

Barnstaple started the second half in style with Jason Slade scoring almost immediately from the kick-off. Giddy again adding the extras.

Trailing 29-0 Maids began to push the visitors back and they got themselves on the scoreboard when Jonny Hammond finished off a concerted spell of pressure. Ed Keohane sent the conversion between the posts to make it 29-7.

A brace of individual tries from the impressive Paul Scheres, one of which was converted by Giddy, saw the score stretched to 41-7.

But Maids finished the game on top, Richie Craig bundled over for the home side's second try before Paul Britton rounded off a fine move by scoring in the corner to make the final score 41-17.